Your poem is such a great hook for the insightful sermon you wrote after. When it comes to trusting God, I often turn to the story of Hosea and Gomer. He is told that he will be betrayed, that he will suffer disgrace, and yet, that God will use his life and testimony as a testament to divine grace and restoration. When we face life with wide and innocent eyes, we set ourselves up for disillusion and sometimes even apostasy. However, once we acknowledge that life will be hard, that things will bring us pain, that relationships will sour, we get at least to rest assured that God is in control and creating meaning behind the trial. In the end, just as from the very beginning, God has a plan.
I came across Ezekiel 24 today where God tells him he'll take his wife in a single blow and he shouldn't mourn, using him as a sign and wonder to the people of Israel for what is to come upon them.
I was in silence for a few minutes. How do you argue with God? How do you prove your case? It caused me to for a moment consider the people I want to share the kingdom with. If such things didn't overthrow their faith, what is my excuse?
You might appreciate my story. The book of Job plays an important role in my story from Prodigal to Shepherd.
https://tonysmithph.substack.com/p/prodigal-to-shepherd?r=6wybrs&utm_medium=ios
Your poem is such a great hook for the insightful sermon you wrote after. When it comes to trusting God, I often turn to the story of Hosea and Gomer. He is told that he will be betrayed, that he will suffer disgrace, and yet, that God will use his life and testimony as a testament to divine grace and restoration. When we face life with wide and innocent eyes, we set ourselves up for disillusion and sometimes even apostasy. However, once we acknowledge that life will be hard, that things will bring us pain, that relationships will sour, we get at least to rest assured that God is in control and creating meaning behind the trial. In the end, just as from the very beginning, God has a plan.
Thanks, brother
I came across Ezekiel 24 today where God tells him he'll take his wife in a single blow and he shouldn't mourn, using him as a sign and wonder to the people of Israel for what is to come upon them.
I was in silence for a few minutes. How do you argue with God? How do you prove your case? It caused me to for a moment consider the people I want to share the kingdom with. If such things didn't overthrow their faith, what is my excuse?
Another excellent example what it means to deny ourselves and carry the cross.
Truly it is good he remembers we are flesh for his grace carries us through
Truly God owes no man an explanation but we pray for grace to draw near and abide
It is a good reminder of our place but even more of our Heavenly Father’s majesty and worthiness of all our praise and obedience.
Also: I can’t find the reference/original link for the first footnote
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Lovely thoughts. Ok. This time the typo is a missing word in the fifth paragraph BEFORE Peterson’s paraphrase.
“Everyone who reads the book of job…what IT says..”?