| Purpose |
The purpose of these email reflections is to stimulate the God-given longing we all have for that which is truly life-giving, and to encourage sacrificing the lesser, more immediate "satisfactions" for the greater, in all areas of life, so that one may Live and share that Life with others!
|
| Subscribe to "Choosing Life" email reflections |
|
|
|
Contact information
|
Contact Email
Website
Phone: 574.533.2812
|
|
|
| 
Hello ,
If God is the "God of all comfort", why don't I feel more comforted when I hurt?"
- Sheldon Swartz |
Deep Comfort II
|  "Praise be to God . . . the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles . . " - II Corinthians 1:3.4a
This is a follow-up to last week's part one reflections on experiencing God's comfort deep within and how our tendency is to try to live without it when God's love doesn't seem to reach the depths of our being. "It's just not meant to be" we may conclude, and settle for something less than God intended for us.
Who of us would not want our children to know, deep down, that they are supported, underneath, by an ever-expanding everlasting love, no matter what happens to them, no matter how they fail, no matter how they get hurt and/or disillusioned by life's twists and turns, some of which seem unquestionably cruel?
My deepest prayer for my daughter Janelle after three miscarriages and no baby almost a couple of years ago now, in the midst of her sense of grief and betrayal, was that she not turn away from the God of Love, concluding from her limited perspective in the middle of her grief that God is not a God of Love and therefore cannot be trusted with her heart.
While losing the last little person, Elijah, at 20 weeks was extremely disheartening to all of us, more so for Simeon and especially for Janelle, the pain of that would have been minor for me compared to the pain of seeing her turn away from the Source of Love and try to live life without depending on that Provision. Now, she gave God a hard time with this whole thing, but at least she was turned towards God. She took up her cause with God, not apart from God.
They have a beautiful boy now who is eight months old. We are all so grateful, mostly them! I'd like to say "God is good" in response to that, but God being good has nothing to do with it. God is as good when children die as he is when they live. God is as good when children are treated well as he is when they are abused. God is as good when someone is living out a life sentence for something they did not do as he is when justice has its way. And on and on . . . you add your particular issue.
It should be clear by now, if we look around with our eyes open, that God is not about protecting human beings from mankind's most grievous sins. When God gives comfort, protection from the evils of the world is not it.
One could ask whether it really is ever truly comforting when one is protected from evil and all kinds of other suffering. Relieving, yes. Very much so! Comforting?
Comfort has to do with pain. It doesn't have much to do with being protected from things that cause pain. So when we talk about wanting to be deeply comforted, we need to be willing to experience deep pain, something we spend a lot of money and time to eliminate or stay away from!
Could it be that it is our conclusions or judgments about God at points of extreme pain (and extremely limited perspective) that determine whether or not we will experience deep comfort? If I see the horrible things that happen to myself or others as being outside of God - his love and sovereignty, then I may turn away from Him, i.e. "a good God wouldn't let this happen." If I see the horrible sinful things that people do to each other, as well as natural disasters, as within God - his love and sovereignty, and that God suffers too with those who suffer, then I will turn towards Him, experiencing deep comfort as we suffer together and as He speaks truth to my deepest fear.
The greatest suffering is suffering alone, and Jesus already did that. Maybe we don't need to be afraid . . .
"Knowing that comfort is related to pain isn't very comforting, God! I still don't want to hurt! But I also want to be loved and love deeply, and so I want to be willing to have pain be a part of that learning process. It helps to know you have gone through it all, and are no stranger to anything I can possibly experience. Help me to rest in that and live with an open heart. So be it."
I work with individuals, couples, and families to identify the ways of life and death in their lives and help uncover the motivation to choose that which leads to life, whether it be through counseling or spiritual direction. - Sheldon Swartz, MA/LMFT
|
|
