I was getting ready to take my daughter to 3's school last week when we stopped to pray a blessing over her. I asked God to protect her. After which she asked, "Why will God protect me if He did not protect the people of Haiti in the earthquake."
From the mouths of babes. Yikes, how do you respond to that?
We all wrestle with these deep questions of life. How do we make sense of so many who died. It is so real and so raw that even a 3 year old takes notice.
I have shared this story with others and the first thing they ask is, "What did you tell her, how did you respond?" I think all of us want a simple, nice answer to make us feel better.
I told her that it was a really good question and that I was not sure how to best answer her. I shared that we believe that God is good all the time even when bad things happen. As a 3 year old, she was good with that and asked if we could play dolls when she was done with school.
It was later that day that a friend of mine shared a painting that she had that helped describe the rawness of the week. It was a black and white painting of a person on their knees with their head leaning back with eyes toward the sky. The arms were out stretched. She shared that she was drawn to the picture because half of the time it looks as if the person is in the midst of passionate worship. However, other days she is drawn to the picture as if the person is in complete dispair and can not take another step.
The same picture brings out two very different emotions. But how true. My week last week was filled with times of all our praise - thank you Lord! And other times was at complete despair - God I can not do another day.
The beauty of this picture is that no matter if it is all out praise or all out despair - the eyes are focused on the same person - Jesus Christ. Jesus is King in our best of times and our worst of times.
So as this new week unfolds - during your best of times - keep your eyes focused on Jesus....during your hardest of times - keep your eyes focused on Jesus.
"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Heb 12:1-2
I have shared this story with others and the first thing they ask is, "What did you tell her, how did you respond?" I think all of us want a simple, nice answer to make us feel better.
I told her that it was a really good question and that I was not sure how to best answer her. I shared that we believe that God is good all the time even when bad things happen. As a 3 year old, she was good with that and asked if we could play dolls when she was done with school.
It was later that day that a friend of mine shared a painting that she had that helped describe the rawness of the week. It was a black and white painting of a person on their knees with their head leaning back with eyes toward the sky. The arms were out stretched. She shared that she was drawn to the picture because half of the time it looks as if the person is in the midst of passionate worship. However, other days she is drawn to the picture as if the person is in complete dispair and can not take another step.
The same picture brings out two very different emotions. But how true. My week last week was filled with times of all our praise - thank you Lord! And other times was at complete despair - God I can not do another day.
The beauty of this picture is that no matter if it is all out praise or all out despair - the eyes are focused on the same person - Jesus Christ. Jesus is King in our best of times and our worst of times.
So as this new week unfolds - during your best of times - keep your eyes focused on Jesus....during your hardest of times - keep your eyes focused on Jesus.
"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Heb 12:1-2
