April 2024
Reflection on Lenten Bible Study: “Why?-Making Sense of God’s Will”
9 We haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 10 We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10, CEB)
We carry painful stories in our hearts that cannot be released from the depths within. They might entail the grief of losing a loved one, shattered relationships, disappointments from loved ones or life itself, and the despair of hopelessness. These stories remain submerged in the depths of our hearts, only to resurface suddenly, shaking our hearts and minds, and at times, even impacting our entire lives. In these moments, we often turn to prayer, seeking relief from this anguish, questioning, Why? Why does God permit such suffering? Why do our prayers seeming to go unanswered by God?
When I first found this book, “Why?-Making Sense of God’s Will” written by Adam Hamilton, I was so excited, it was as if I had received God’s answer to my prayers. I also have my own painful stories, and I have yet to heard God’s answer as to why they happened to me.
As I began my faith journey, I was happy, feeling as if I had obtained everything I desired. God healed my physical body and my wounded soul, guiding me to see a new world that was previously hidden from me. However, with my newfound faith in God, I encountered many challenges and questions. I wondered why certain things happened if God truly exists. As I embarked on my ministerial journey, I experienced the loss of my parents and older sister at a young age, and my house was destroyed by fire twice. I had assumed that believing in God would pave a straight, trouble free path for me, but instead, my journey remained rough and filled with unexpected twists and turns.
One day, I read the Apostle Paul’s Letter of Philippians, where he states, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13). I learned that the Apostle Paul had experienced many hardships, including being imprisoned frequently, severely flogged, and exposed to death multiple times. He was beaten, shipwrecked, and spent many nights and days in the open sea. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). We cannot imagine how many times he faced painful situations where he suffered terribly because of his unwavering belief in God. If he had denied Jesus Christ, perhaps his path would have been smoother. However, he chose to endure those hardships because of his commitment to Jesus Christ.
Having had such experiences, he said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation because I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” For me, if I were to live my life without knowing God, I would never have encountered such crooked paths; I would never questioned why certain things happened. My suffering and struggles are a result of my journey towards understanding God, akin to growing pains. I am also progressing in understanding the secret of contentment, as the Apostle Paul mentioned. It is akin to walking with God in everyday life. As Adam Hamilton explains in the book, we co-write our stories with God. If you walk alone, life may feel burdensome. However, by inviting God to join you, you allow Him to be a co-author in writing your life story.
We know of many faithful ancestors who have experienced numerous difficulties: Moses, Abraham, Jacob, David, Joseph, Naomi, and others. As we navigate through those dreadful chapters and challenging seasons of our lives, there are moments when we cannot perceive God or envision how things will unfold. However, when we reflect on our lives later, in hindsight, we see how God advanced the plot, weaving it into the narrative of God’s redemption in our lives.
Hamilton says, “God can and will transform our pain, redeem our suffering, and lift us out of the darkest of pits. Out of our dark moments, God writes a story of triumph. With God as our coauthor, the dark times are never the end of the story” (p.74). Your story has not yet ended. The remaining chapters are yet to be written. God’s plan for your life is not set in stone. You have the chance to write your story. As you do, it is God’s will that you lead lives “worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). In this season of growth, let us journey together with God, anticipating how God will orchestrate events along our ministerial paths.
Blessings,
Pastor Jenny