Journal Entry ~ 11/07/19

9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.  - Psalm 25:9-10

God’s love for us is relentless in its pursuit for us, and His faithfulness is constant, but His love is a perfecting love, not a papering love. Many walking through trials question the goodness of God or His love for us because we have an false understanding of His love. We think when we give our lives to Christ, He will bless us by making everything easier in our lives, He will remove all injustices we experience and cover our lives with joy. 

But that’s not what scripture says. Scripture reminds us we live in a broken world, full of broken people.  Living in a broken world means you’re going to run into struggles from time to time. God’s plan for this world is that He would heal the brokenness though His love. But His love is a perfecting love, not a pampering love. 

We read in Hebrews 12:5 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

There is no doubt suffering exists in the world. And we know God can stop the suffering because if He couldn't stop the suffering, He would not be sovereign. But if He can stop it and doesn’t, how can God be loving? 

If God does not seem loving to us, it is only because our definition of loving is wrong. Sometimes our perceptions need a reality check from God’s Word.  God’s love is not a pampering love—it’s a perfecting love. He does not spend each day thinking about how to put bigger smiles on our faces. His love designs a plan to deliver the highest usefulness out of our lives because He’s in the process of growing and changing us.  He disciplines the ones He loves. 

When you’re experiencing His discipline, God sees the big picture while we can only see a part of it. Sometimes in His sovereignty, God decides He will allow difficult trials into our lives, but God promises that He always allows circumstances for a purpose. Rather than making the world perfect, God has sovereignly chosen to make the world free. 

He shows His strength and glory by giving His presence during trials to those who love Him. Believers go through the same trials people who don’t know Him go through, but God brings glory to Himself through the contrast made by His presence. Bad things do happen to good people. God is sovereign even over that. But you can know for sure if He allowed it, then He means it for your good because He loves you. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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