There was a person I met in a seminar. He was a father. As we were talking about family stories I asked him, “What was the first thing that came to your mind when you held your daughter in your hand for the first time?” He paused for a while and said, “It was, ‘I am going to be responsible for my daughter’s life.’”
There was not only joy but also a realization that there is a sense of responsibility. The Bible talks about bringing up a child in wisdom (Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 4:1-7). Indeed, there is responsibility with the gift. This sense of responsibility is reflected in God Himself. So much as the parents felt the responsibility to bring up a child, God felt the same responsibility, indeed much more, to bring up each one of us.
We lived in an imperfect world and we wonder whether God cared enough. Maybe at times, things were too hard for us to say everything will be alright. The pressure of life may blind us to see anything good but will never stop God’s faithfulness. Joseph was sold by his own brothers. But the scenes became clear when the blessings followed after all these. Joseph was made ruler of Egypt and was able to help his brothers. At some point of time, we may not be able to see the fruit but God has already planted the seeds to bless us. Because He is responsible for our lives. He loved us and had good plans for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). And God’s perfect plan comes in due time, neither early nor late.
Sometimes, God takes away which we valued the most in our lives. God just want to say He knows what is best for our lives. There is a song, “He gives and take away. But my heart will choose to stay. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
If we wait on the Lord we shall not be in want. For everything will work out for good (Romans 8:28). When God stops us there is a purpose behind it. As a father disciplines his child so is God. The Bible says, “...My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:5-6).
His punishment purely shows His authority, care and responsibility. Not that we are rejected but that we would become more like Him. God showed the perfect responsibility to mankind by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to this dying world so that the world could be saved through Him. Also that He will be Father to us. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!...” (1 John 3:1).
We always have a Father who wants us to be with Him. We may have messed up our life but God can still change it. The question is not, “Where is God when it hurts,” but “Where are we when it hurts.” For God is always there. In the light of God everything makes sense.
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalms 139:15-17)
When God saw our unformed body He knew He was going to be responsible for our lives.
There was not only joy but also a realization that there is a sense of responsibility. The Bible talks about bringing up a child in wisdom (Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 4:1-7). Indeed, there is responsibility with the gift. This sense of responsibility is reflected in God Himself. So much as the parents felt the responsibility to bring up a child, God felt the same responsibility, indeed much more, to bring up each one of us.
We lived in an imperfect world and we wonder whether God cared enough. Maybe at times, things were too hard for us to say everything will be alright. The pressure of life may blind us to see anything good but will never stop God’s faithfulness. Joseph was sold by his own brothers. But the scenes became clear when the blessings followed after all these. Joseph was made ruler of Egypt and was able to help his brothers. At some point of time, we may not be able to see the fruit but God has already planted the seeds to bless us. Because He is responsible for our lives. He loved us and had good plans for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). And God’s perfect plan comes in due time, neither early nor late.
Sometimes, God takes away which we valued the most in our lives. God just want to say He knows what is best for our lives. There is a song, “He gives and take away. But my heart will choose to stay. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
If we wait on the Lord we shall not be in want. For everything will work out for good (Romans 8:28). When God stops us there is a purpose behind it. As a father disciplines his child so is God. The Bible says, “...My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:5-6).
His punishment purely shows His authority, care and responsibility. Not that we are rejected but that we would become more like Him. God showed the perfect responsibility to mankind by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to this dying world so that the world could be saved through Him. Also that He will be Father to us. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!...” (1 John 3:1).
We always have a Father who wants us to be with Him. We may have messed up our life but God can still change it. The question is not, “Where is God when it hurts,” but “Where are we when it hurts.” For God is always there. In the light of God everything makes sense.
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalms 139:15-17)
When God saw our unformed body He knew He was going to be responsible for our lives.
