Replies on CF are limited in the size they are allowed. So to give a longer reply one must break it up into more than one reply. I have just recently done this, and so would like to duplicate those replies here as one:
As I hesitate to write, thinking that I will be taken as uncaring or unsympathetic at first, thinking that what the usual reaction or reply would be to your rant would be sympathy, empathy, and soothing encouragement, I also think of how I want to conclude this reply.
"Tough love" is not my mindset here, but as I look at the picture of the lighted lamp at the bottom of your post, with the words "Just somebody trying to make sense of God's reality" this is where I am coming from, having the desire to write something that might turn the light on for you, and help you make sense of God's reality. To be continued.
I can see the situation from your view, from what you have written. I can see the situation from God's view from what He has had written as well, the Bible. I would pray for you, that Psalms 30:11 will become your theme in the future. There have been many just like you, that have experienced "the change" spoken of in Psa 30:11, after the long walk of experiencing pain and discontent in this life, and then the light comes on, and the change takes place. As humans, with our limited spiritual vision, or even blindness, we think we know what we would really want. We think we know what would be best for us. For many, it is being married, or being married to that certain person. If that were a reality, many think they would have what they want; what would be the best thing for them. Yet God in His omniscience, and love, knows better. Parents often experience what God experiences: the child wants something oooh so bad, to just dart out between the parked cars and run across the street for example. Yet the parent knows that would be a disaster because of the speeding, oncoming car, so they restrain the child, and the child reacts with a temper tantrum. The parent understands. The child doesn't. To be continued.
What is God's greatest desire for someone; that they be rich, famous, successful in a vocation, happily married enjoying raising a family, etc.? That may well be for some, but that would not be all of what God's greatest desire would be. Why did God create us in the first place, for all of the above? Not necessarily in this life at all. God created us to be in close "fellowship" with Him. Loving Him with all our heart, soul.... finding our greatest pleasure, satisfaction, joy, and contentment in knowing Him being far superior than our desire for any thing, or anyone else. God would have that for everyone, but God does not force that upon anyone beyond there ability to resist Him. That is why some will remain lost, and lost forever. Many Christians will not attain this in this life either, for they are set in their stubborn way of still following things of the world. "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world?'" 2 Timothy 4:10. Demas was a Christian, but he loved the things of the world more than the things of God. Demas may have been happy and content with acquiring the things of the world, but he didn't acquire "the best." God always gives the best, though in the beginning we may not see it that way. Satan doesn't give the best, though in the beginning we may not see it that way. To be continued.
This is the conclusion to my long reply. Some people God is content to let them have their own selfish way and will. Other people, God still will not force, but He is less content to allow them to not choose the best way, and so He deals with them a little longer, a little harder for their good, out of love, allowing them to suffer. He allows Joseph to be in prison for two years; Moses to wander the wilderness "alone" for 40 years before leading millions the next 40 years. He allows Paul to be in prison, to write some of our best epistles in the Bible, including Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ..." Some know God. Some know God really, really, well. Jesus suffered. Some will not know Him very well, unless they too enter the sacrificial camaraderie of suffering, 1 Peter 4:12-13. It may be that God has something better for you than the happiness that Hollywood, Disney, and the rest of the world want to offer you. It is that greater knowledge, and greater fellowship with Him than most people ever know in this life. Paul desired it, Peter desired it, and God gave it to them. He wants to give it to you as well, so that Psalms 30:11 will be the theme of your life.
"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;" Instead of seeking the things of the world, we need to seek Him to have this happen. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jer 29:13. The fullest contentment is finding God in this way.
As I hesitate to write, thinking that I will be taken as uncaring or unsympathetic at first, thinking that what the usual reaction or reply would be to your rant would be sympathy, empathy, and soothing encouragement, I also think of how I want to conclude this reply.
"Tough love" is not my mindset here, but as I look at the picture of the lighted lamp at the bottom of your post, with the words "Just somebody trying to make sense of God's reality" this is where I am coming from, having the desire to write something that might turn the light on for you, and help you make sense of God's reality. To be continued.
I can see the situation from your view, from what you have written. I can see the situation from God's view from what He has had written as well, the Bible. I would pray for you, that Psalms 30:11 will become your theme in the future. There have been many just like you, that have experienced "the change" spoken of in Psa 30:11, after the long walk of experiencing pain and discontent in this life, and then the light comes on, and the change takes place. As humans, with our limited spiritual vision, or even blindness, we think we know what we would really want. We think we know what would be best for us. For many, it is being married, or being married to that certain person. If that were a reality, many think they would have what they want; what would be the best thing for them. Yet God in His omniscience, and love, knows better. Parents often experience what God experiences: the child wants something oooh so bad, to just dart out between the parked cars and run across the street for example. Yet the parent knows that would be a disaster because of the speeding, oncoming car, so they restrain the child, and the child reacts with a temper tantrum. The parent understands. The child doesn't. To be continued.
What is God's greatest desire for someone; that they be rich, famous, successful in a vocation, happily married enjoying raising a family, etc.? That may well be for some, but that would not be all of what God's greatest desire would be. Why did God create us in the first place, for all of the above? Not necessarily in this life at all. God created us to be in close "fellowship" with Him. Loving Him with all our heart, soul.... finding our greatest pleasure, satisfaction, joy, and contentment in knowing Him being far superior than our desire for any thing, or anyone else. God would have that for everyone, but God does not force that upon anyone beyond there ability to resist Him. That is why some will remain lost, and lost forever. Many Christians will not attain this in this life either, for they are set in their stubborn way of still following things of the world. "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world?'" 2 Timothy 4:10. Demas was a Christian, but he loved the things of the world more than the things of God. Demas may have been happy and content with acquiring the things of the world, but he didn't acquire "the best." God always gives the best, though in the beginning we may not see it that way. Satan doesn't give the best, though in the beginning we may not see it that way. To be continued.
This is the conclusion to my long reply. Some people God is content to let them have their own selfish way and will. Other people, God still will not force, but He is less content to allow them to not choose the best way, and so He deals with them a little longer, a little harder for their good, out of love, allowing them to suffer. He allows Joseph to be in prison for two years; Moses to wander the wilderness "alone" for 40 years before leading millions the next 40 years. He allows Paul to be in prison, to write some of our best epistles in the Bible, including Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ..." Some know God. Some know God really, really, well. Jesus suffered. Some will not know Him very well, unless they too enter the sacrificial camaraderie of suffering, 1 Peter 4:12-13. It may be that God has something better for you than the happiness that Hollywood, Disney, and the rest of the world want to offer you. It is that greater knowledge, and greater fellowship with Him than most people ever know in this life. Paul desired it, Peter desired it, and God gave it to them. He wants to give it to you as well, so that Psalms 30:11 will be the theme of your life.
"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;" Instead of seeking the things of the world, we need to seek Him to have this happen. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jer 29:13. The fullest contentment is finding God in this way.
