Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Life is Messy, but God is GOOD!

Do you ever just feel like throwing up your hands and saying life stinks?!?! People and relationships can get so messy. And life messes are incredibly hard... maybe even harder than cancer! With cancer, everyone is united against the same ugly disease. With people... everyone is not always on the same page. That's when life can get messy.

In the middle of the mess, it's so easy to whine and question WHY??? Sometimes it would be easier to keep the peace rather than stick to convictions. And it's difficult to navigate the range of emotions and to think rationally through the heartache and tears.

Thankfully, God is good, heals broken hearts, and restores broken relationships!

We've recently experienced some tough growing pains as parents. We've had to humbly acknowledge during this messy time of life that until you've walked in someone's shoes, don't judge. It's easy to look at others and say, "We wouldn't do it that way." And believe me, we've said that many times! But chances are, you don't know all the details, and you don't know how you'd react. We now better understand the truth of John Bradford's words ~ There but for the grace of God, go I.

We're blessed with friends who have walked in similar shoes and are willing to come along beside us with wise counsel, encouragement, and prayers. They have poured into us in ways we didn't expect - but so needed - and have pointed us to the goodness of God.

So we're holding tight to the truth that God is good - all the time!

When we don't have words to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes...  
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ~ Romans 8:26
When we can't see past the present pain, God is preparing the good...
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. ~ Romans 8:28
When we wonder why things are happening like they are, God is making us more like Jesus...
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... ~ Romans 8:29
God is faithful and has already started the healing process. We will move forward striving to honor HIM in our relationships... our words... our actions. It will take time... but even when life is messy, GOD IS GOOD!!!