The most-asked question of God

People often wonder why life can be difficult for some Christians and not for others. This question has been asked for centuries, and although this article is not designed to answer them all, I hope that it will provide answers for some of those born-again Christians who are having trials and tribulations.

I draw much of my opinion from the Bible and life’s experience. I have told part of my family’s experiences in preceding articles, but to help explain this article I will repeat them in this article as well.

Several years ago I said two prayers. Shortly thereafter, I and my family went through some very trying times. The house burned to the ground, two major car accidents (one included five cars), broken bones, near-death experience (God stepped in and stopped it), problems with the kids and work, then our business and all its equipment burned to the ground. All we literally had left was a well worn-out car and a table saw (even the clothing we were wearing were not ours). This all happened is less than six months.

We had no insurance, no money and no resources. I remember standing in the ashes hours after the second fire was put out and my wife asking what we were going to do. My response was “rebuild.” She asked, “How?” My response was, “God will provide.”

Six months later a small cabin stood where the house was. In the following two years God blessed us beyond our wildest dreams. With new, better equipment, things that I had wanted for years were suddenly affordable and a second, much larger and better home. The lesson I learned in that time emphasized to me that God is always there in control, and to be careful of what I pray for. In a strange way God answered the prayer.

I do not regret the fires or misfortune for mtself or my family; that would be like Lot’s wife looking back at Sodom and Gomorra. I thank God for the experience and appreciate his hand in my life. Did God do the things that happened during that six months? My answer would be an emphatic “no.” Did God allow those things to happen? My answer would be “yes.” My conclusion comes from the many stories in the Bible where God allowed people to be subjected to trials to give them the opportunity to grow and examine themselves. Most people do not know what they are capable of until they are pushed out of their comfort zone and forced to reach beyond themselves. Sometimes it is also a case that some people (not me, of course) learn best the hard way. One man I know said we had a Job experience. After I thought about it I was very humbled that God would find me worthy to anything near the trials of Job.

As a child (about 5) I had an infatuation with wall plug-ins. My mother repeatedly spanked me for putting things in them explaining that it was dangerous. It did nothing to curb my curiosity. One day I found a hairpin on the floor. Mom was across the room sewing on her sewing machine. She seemed to be preoccupied and not paying attention. Of course, armed with a method to satisfy my curiosity, I stuck it in the wall outlet.

I don’t remember too much until I opened my eyes in the middle of the floor. In all truthfulness all I can remember is hurting from head to foot and the tingling all over my body. Mom said nothing and appeared not to notice. Many years later I asked her about the incident. She laughed and said, “Well, I talked and you didn’t listen. I spanked, you ignored me. But now that plug-in explained it clearly. I was there to help if needed, but you had to learn the hard way.”

To this day I have a very healthy respect for electricity. OK you can quit laughing now, this is humiliating enough. My point is, I believe that God works much the same way. He warns us in the Bible, some won’t listen. Then God allows a minor trial, some view it as bad luck. Finally, he allows a major trial to teach or correct us and we often wonder what happened. God gave people the ability to think and decide for themselves. Most of the time the situations that people find themselves in is self-inflected, much like the situation I had with the wall outlet. God will be there for us, but we have to ask for that help. Sadly, some still refuse to learn, and even worse some blame God for trying to teach them.

Many years ago I got myself into some trouble. I was young and did the typical American thing try to blame anybody other than myself for the trouble I was in. In the midst of the situation someone asked “how many fingers are pointing back when you are pointing at others for the trouble your in?” From that day on before I blame others for a situation I look in the mirror and ask, “What did I do to get myself where I am?”

I often wonder how much different this country would be if people would only ask, “What is my part in this situation, did I do this to myself?” instead of looking to the city, borough, state or federal government for the answer. The answer is only a prayer away. If more tried prayer and the mirror idea the trouble would work itself out.

As a closing comment, if you are in the midst of a trial I urge you to read a poem called “Footsteps in the Sand.”

Written by Mike Blodgett, chaplain for Lighthouse Chapel in Wasilla. Contact him at lighthouse_chapelak@yahoo.com.