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THURSDAY THOUGHT 7/17/08

July 17, 2008 on 11:39 am | By John Ingrisano | In Faith & Forgiveness | No Comments

What Do You Say When…
 
This one is dark.  I apologize, for it seems to have no good answer for me.  What do you say when today’s reading  (see below) seems more like a curse than a blessing?  For the parent who gets that middle-of-the-night phone call?  For the husband who is given the worst possible medical report?  For the wife who hears out of the blue, “I’m leaving you”? 
 
For the person whose setbacks just keep coming and it feels like God enjoys holding him by the neck with his face in the  mud, that can be a tough time for faith.  How do you respond?  The “There there!  There there!” or “Trust in God” consolation sounds like pretty thin gruel.  Almost makes a person understand why there are atheists and people who are furious at God.
 
My point?  I don’t know what to think — let alone say — to these people who seem to run out of hope.  Enjoy?  Celebrate?  Blessings?  I guess all I can say is  — Please keep all the suffering in the world in your prayers today.  Pray for relief for those whose pain is beyond consolation. — jri  

“Take delight in the Lord,
    and he shall give you your heart’s desire.
Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him,
    and he will bring it to pass.”
            –    Psalm 36:4-5