Making sense of the mess

It can often be tricky to match up our view of God with our daily lived experience. We say God is all-powerful, and we say God is kind. So why is there so much mess? Why does God, who we say loves us and is totally in control, allow painful things to happen to us?

The Bible says this: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:28-29, NIV)

Basically, through it all, God is making us more like Jesus. Theoretically, we may well believe this. Sometimes, we can even see this working itself out – that tricky relationship with a work colleague, whilst far from ideal, certainly builds our patience. But what about when we can’t see how on earth God could be using our messed-up circumstances to change us? Can he really be working for our good “in all things”? Frankly, in the midst of frustrating and painful situations, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. 

God: no more than The Ant Bully? (Warner Bros 2006)

But if mess is just mess, then we paint God to be no more than the proverbial mean kid with a magnifying glass, frying us like ants for his own amusement. If he is in control, he must be permitting the mess. And maybe he is changing us, by asking us to persevere despite what we can see, by teaching us to trust in his timing and not our own, by making us 100% dependent. 

Sometimes the mess can stop us seeing the bigger picture, but we can only hold on to his promise – he has a perfect plan, and he’s working in it for our good.

Bad stair day

Different parts of the Bible can speak to us more clearly on some days than others. Today, one of those days when it’s hard to climb the stairs, physically and mentally, I am particularly excited about Revelation 21.

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21 verses 3-4)

Even if you feel fine now, this is a great promise – it’s not just a healthy, happy life (although that will be a wonderful thing). It’s God, the actual creator, sustainer, redeemer God, living with his people face to face.