From the Bible we can learn many things about God. For example, God is love, He is merciful, faithful, and forgiving. He extends grace. He is our helper and provider. He is a fortress and stronghold. He is the source of wisdom and light for our path. And He is so much more. Yet there are also so many things that we could never understand about God. For Job, he truly did not understand how God could allow all the suffering that he was facing. Job knew that he was innocent. How do we reconcile our minds that God allows bad things to happen to good people? For many people, this question stands in the way of them having a relationship with Christ. For other people, they have abandoned their faith when they couldn’t find a way to understand.
The world we live in is filled with violence, disaster, disease, and pain and it affects all of us at one point or another. We may ask how God could allow the young woman who desires to be a mother to go childless or experience miscarriage after miscarriage. Or why does the pastor who is diligently serving God end up with cancer and dies? Or how does someone you once called friend betray you? The simple truth is we live in a fallen world that is slowly decaying from sin. The world is spiritually and morally decaying, and not from any fault of God. When He created the world, it was perfect. But it began decaying at the moment of the first sin and as a result, all of creation groans under the consequences of our sin. (Romans 8:22)
Regardless of what happens there are some truths that we can hang on too. First, we can know that God loves us and nothing can separate from His love. Romans 8:35-39 says, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?….No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” He loves you in the middle of whatever suffering you may go through. He loves you even when you don’t love him. He loves you when you feel completely alone. He loves you with an everlasting love.
Second, we do not always have to understand in order to trust Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” We will never be able to fully understand God and why He allows some things to happen. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us to walk by faith and not by sight. We can’t understand what God is doing, but we can have faith to claim His promises and when we reach heaven and see things the way God sees them, they will make more sense to us then. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.” Proverbs 3:5 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on our own understanding.” When there are no answers, we simply have to trust Him.
Third, we can know that He hold us in the palm of His hand. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” And in verse 13 it says, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 49:16 says that God has engraved us on the palm of his hands. In John 10:29, Jesus said that no one can snatch us out of His Father’s hand. God’s got us and He will never let us go.
Even when we can’t understand why God would allow something bad too happen, as a child of God, we can be encouraged. This world can take many things away from us — our health, happiness, prosperity, popularity, worldly possessions, and loved ones. But it can never take away the love of God and it can never removed us from the palm of God’s hand. He is with us through every moment of life and we can trust Him. There is coming a day when we will stand in His presence, redeemed and glorified. In that moment the suffering and losses of this world will be a dim memory but until then we can say with the psalmist, “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:7)
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel
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Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.
Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants.
Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.
With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities.
To request more information or a booking,Â
fill out the online form here.
Or call us at 904.524.8073
