Why God why?

When was the last time you asked God the 'why' question?  Sometimes, when things just don't make sense we find ourselves trying to reason and understand how our particular set of circumstances came to be. We want to DO SOMETHING! We are frustrated with where we are or losing hope to see our dreams come true. I experienced one of those seasons this fall and God's timing was perfect as our Pastor, Julian Freeman was completing a series on Genesis.

His sermon called - The God of Astonishingly Complex Providence addressed this question so succinctly.  As a followup to our weekly services most of our congregation meets in small groups and discusses how the biblical principles taught are being adopted and accepted.  With Julian's permission I am sharing these thought provoking questions with you because I found them so profound. 

1. At the heart of the ‘why’ question there are several presuppositions: (1) that you are able to understand; (2) that it would be better to know; (3) that you deserve to know why; (4) that God needs to explain himself to me; and (5) that if there’s no good explanation, God had better fix it.
• What are the ‘why’ questions you are prone to ask God (in your thoughts)?
• Are you hopeful that you’ll trust God more consistently now (and question him less)? Why/Why not?
• We sometimes fail to see the severity of questioning God. What’s wrong with having a light hearted attitude toward our struggles in this area?
2. Trust in God’s providence gives us contentment with our lot.
• Are you content? If so, how can you attest to God’s grace in your being contentedness. If not, ways have you been struggling with discontentment?
• What are you failing to trust God for? Explain how truth from Genesis 37-39 can help you in your battle for contentment?  
• How would trusting in God’s providence change the way you are deal with your current circumstances (and make you more obedient now)?
3. Trust in God’s providence gives patience for his work in others.
• What is it so hard for you to be patient with (in other people)?
• How would a long-view of God’s providential work in the world help your patience towards these people?

The sermons in this series were for me, timely and exceptionally impactful.  Coming to terms with God's providence, sovereignty, our dreams and ultimately the fact that our lives are a very small part of His story.  I found this series to be freeing, encouraging and inspirational all at the same time.  My journey to coming to complete surrender to God has been a long one....50 years of preparation in fact.  I've chosen the long painful way so very often and yet God has been faithful.  Coming to the conclusion is that He works in mysterious ways, His ways are always better than anything I could come up with.  Ahhh....letting go....and hanging on to His promises.

It is really very simple as the hymn says "Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"

I am free to choose to serve my God and He doesn't need me, I need Him!  Thank you Julian for putting life here on 'planet hollywood' into the proper perspective.  I am developing patience.