I Needed to Write This

“It’s the will of God.”

We say this quite a bit, right? Whether it’s explaining why something is the way it is to others or ourselves; we try to push ourselves into this mindset: God willed it thus it happened.

Trying to make it be the balm our souls so desperately need, trying to make it the cure of ailments and pains, broken hearts and tears. But the comfort isn’t in it.

Reciting a fact to us doesn’t make the pain stop. No, it makes it more distinct. The void of the silence is compounded upon the pronounced void in our heart from where the pain pours.

We’re remembering the wrong fact.

Is God sovereign? Absolutely. Is it his will that causes all things to exist that are? Yes, undoubtedly. But we don’t need to be reminded of that fact. No, we need to remember one glaring reality, Jesus.

Yes, the Lord gives and takes away. Yes, he is in total control. Yes, nothing happens outside of his plan. Yes, we are his totally. But while that is something it is not what we need. We need to know beyond all else, to be set on fire for nothing else, to be drawn by our tender heartstrings to one simple truth, Jesus has saved our souls.

So the problem, the dilemma, is taken care of in one way, looking to the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross despising the shame (our shame); who took the problem we most need saving from and saved us from it. He saved us by himself from ourselves for himself.