A God of contradictions

One of my dear friends, Terri, is writing a devotional book and has been sharing one of these devotions each week with a group that we're both in. I asked her if I could share her thoughts with you and she agreed. See what you think...

You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning. Luke 6:20-21M

It is so hard for us as human beings to even begin to comprehend God. When we first become Christians, we see him as a loving, merciful Lord who took away our sins on the cross. But it seems the longer I know him and walk with him, the less I truly comprehend him. I think it's because the closer we get to Jesus, the more we are able to see and recognize our own sinfulness. The more I get to know his sinlessness and perfection, the more I recognize my own sinfulness and imperfection.

This is exactly the teaching of Jesus. We have to lose our life in order to save it. He had to die in order for us to live in eternal life. Everything has to die and rise again. Think about the tulips and the trees. They die in the winter and lay dormant until just the right time when they sprout to life again. We are blessed when we are suffering or hurting in any way. It doesn't make sense to us, but it does to God. He knows who we are on the inside, and he knows what we need in order to be perfected. This world is simply a preparation for the next. Not an after-life type world, but heaven. Those of us that have accepted Christ and go to heaven will have jobs and assignments and we are being prepared for that now.

Take a minute and look at your life through Gods eyes. What seems unfair to you right now? What seems hard or painful? What could possibly be gained by going through this right now? Ask God to help you trust him during this season of your life.