Throwing Stones at the Perfect One

Got through the first chapter and a half  Argued with the author through the first chapter and a half of Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts. I'm trying to prepare myself to work with Traffick 911, and ready myself to talk with young ladies who have gone through more hurt than I can imagine. How do I tell them, "Yes. God saw everything that was being done to you, and He loves you"? How do I express that God is all-powerful and all-loving, yet allowed such evil to be done to them?

I was frustrated and questioning these truths, trying to wrestle with how God could allow what He does. If a police officer saw evil and could do something to stop it but did nothing; I would think he was a terrible policeman, and I'd be disgusted. Why should I excuse God?

Hosanna!*1


Yah yah, sin came into the world. Now there's evil. But, if He can stop it, why doesn't He...
(Job 33-35 is a great read for those of you who are saying, "Yah!" with me. "Why doesn't He?!")

Job 38:2 God's response to Job (and me): "Who is this that obscures My plans with words without knowledge?" ...40:2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let Him who accuses God answer Him!"
Job/me: 40:4 "I am unworthy -how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth."
God: 40:8 "Would you discredit My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?"

Job/me: 42:3 "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

Here I am, just a [wo]man, trying to reason out the ways of the Creator. And I've forgotten the most important truth of all.
"For God loved the people of this world so much that He sent His only Son here, so that whoever believes in Him, will not perish*2 but receive eternal life (John 3:16)."
How dare I think He doesn't care!
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6)."

Jesus isn't sitting idly by, as I had falsely accused and ignorantly suggested. He came down out of His PERFECT home in heaven and lived with an imperfect family, and put up with messed up people, and let people kill him for something WE did. Why? 'Cause He loves us.
He can relate. He's working things out for good. He gives us nothing we can't handle. He's our Healer.

There's nothing the devil can do that He cannot restore. There will come a day of vengeance, when the devil will be put back in His place forever, and those who have believed in Jesus will live pain free forever, fully restored, clothed in white. This is not home. Not the way things are meant to be. But, that day will come. In the meantime, evil is real, but, our God is alive, and He's not sitting idly by.

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9)."

"The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands (Psalm 9:16)."

"The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:5)."

"With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment.
⁶ Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road  for you to follow.
⁷ Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7)."

“'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,'declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:8-9)."

1 

ho·san·na

   [hoh-zan-uh] interjection

1.

(an exclamation, originally an appeal to God for deliverance,used in praise of God or Christ.)

2 

per·ish

   [per-ish]  

verb (used without object)

1.

to die or be destroyed through violence, privation, etc.: toperish in an earthquake.

2.

to pass away or disappear: an age of elegance that has foreverperished.

3.

to suffer destruction or ruin: His valuable paintings perished inthe fire.

4.

to suffer spiritual death: Save us, lest we perish.

Hesitation

Tell me, why is it:
When he takes a step toward me,
I take a step back toward You.
he tells me he adores me.
I say I adore You.
I don't wanna fear this.
I want to enjoy it,
       and
           love
               again.
But, it's hard throwing pearls to men.

Guard it but, don't harden it.
My heart's a complicated thing.
Step by step please guide us.
In Your presence I can rest.
Don't want to withhold,
because of things done that are old.

Could he handle?
Would he judge?
Will we love without a grudge?

Love covers over a multitude of sins.
Your love is enough.
Don't want You to have to pry open my hands,
to give me a gift.
Will You just give me peace?
Or not, if I'm going amiss.


Dating again. Kind of a scary thing. But I realize that with God's help, I can do all things. His way this time. Learning from mistakes. Making no provision for the flesh. I want to live out love that's pure and take the devil by surprise. I've been inspired by Need to Breathe's, Looks Like Love, "I won't run when it looks like love. I won't hide beneath the fear of how the past has come undone. I won't run when it looks like love. 'Cause I can't spend another night alone regretting what I've done. So, I won't run." Also, Sara Grove's, Open My Hands, "He withholds no good thing from us...I will open my hands, will open my heart; I am nodding my head an emphatic yes to all that You have for me." I'm trying to get there.

Oh yes :) Ben Stuart's (from Breakaway Ministries) Podcast series on Song of Songs is great too. Best explanation of the book I've ever heard. Enjoy responsibly lol