GOD IS FOR US
When my son, Josh, was eight, he was hit on the nose with a baseball bat. He was playing ball with some boys, and one of them clobbered him on the backswing. We rushed him to the ER and were immediately ushered in. Besides a broken nose, Josh was sporting a nasty gash between his eyes, requiring multiple stitches. You can imagine, as an eight-year-old, Josh thrashed about in agony. The doctor needed someone to hold his flailing head and arms in place, and Yours Truly was elected.
As I stood directly over him, pinning his arms down and firmly securing his head in place, the doctor injected a numbing agent into Josh’s cut, which must have been torturous. I’ll never forget the look on my son’s face. His expression screamed, “Why, Dad? Why are you letting him hurt me? How could a loving father subject me to such torment?” Of course we know the answer. I did it to help him. I was actually loving him...only it didn’t feel like love to Josh. Afterward, Linda and I collapsed into each other’s arms, weeping over our son’s pain.
It’s the same with God. As a loving Father, He allows us to experience pain. Human suffering is too deep to understand, but here’s my take on it. I don’t believe God causes bad things to happen to us. Our own foolish choices, the circumstances of life, and the Enemy create the tragedies we experience. (See the book of Job). But at times God permits tragedies, without stepping in to stop our pain. Often, He “holds our head in place” as we scream, “Why, God? How could a loving Father let this happen?” The answer is the same as my experience with Josh. At that particular point, God is right there with us, weeping with us, loving us—in ways that may not feel like love.
In this life we’re not capable of comprehending the “why.” It's simply too deep for us to grasp. But in the midst of pain, grab hold of this indisputable fact: God is for you! Romans 8 promises: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (v. 31) and “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God” (v. 39 NLT). Amazing! We’re not capable of understanding God’s actions, but we trust Him—no matter how deep the pain...because God is for you!
UPDATE ON LINDA: Since returning from the Gerson Clinic, Linda has improved markedly. Her doctor made adjustments to her diet and protocol, and it’s working well. Her energy level is higher, and her detox symptoms are less severe. Please keep praying that her conditions continue to improve.
This devotion is an excerpt from my book Thriving in Troubled Times. If you would like to read more like it, you can purchase it on Amazon. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P3RYM5R/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_VrXVFbVVZNEVA
Principle: God is for us.
Promise: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Ponder:
When have you felt God was not with you, only to later discover He was acting in your best interest?
How can you learn to trust God more during these times?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Romans 8:28–39.
Prayer: Loving Father, open my eyes to see You in every situation in my life. Help me to trust that You are always for me, even when my human nature doesn’t feel like it.