Your comments show that Jesus has done great work in your life! To be able to trust that he is all-powerful, all knowing and all loving, is a mark of maturity. David’s example of bringing questions to God is encouraging that we can do the same; and there’s a big difference between questioning God and accusing him or charging him. Thanks again!

I heard a sermon a while back that God is all powerful, all knowing and all loving. and that we must understand that He is all 3. i tend to forget the “all loving” and only think of God as all-powerful and all-knowing… which ends in me often fearing God, attempting to hide my sins and thinking He’s “out to get me” (because after all, He knows all my sin and He has the power to destroy me) … I forget that the gospel speaks to this fear… that He destroyed the power of my sin through Jesus on the cross and that when I became His child He gave me all the righteousness of His Son!

i’ve found much comfort over the past few years since I became a Christian in knowing that there’s a freedom to take my aches and complaints and questions to God… especially in the wilderness seasons . i’ve never known that side of God’s character until lately. and honestly, Mark, its SO refreshing… to know that when I question and lament the wilderness, that God understands my weakness and merely asks me to come to Him trusting that He is good and that even this is working for my good. (not saying that’s an excuse for me to grumble and complain like the Children of Israel!)

the Psalms have helped so much with this… to see the boldness of David… that He would go to God and say that he is an upright man… David, who was a murderer and coveter and adulterer. But through Christ’s righteousness, he was acceptable before God. That example gives me boldness that through Christ, I too can come before the Throne of Grace in my need, in my wilderness and in my weakness.

Thanks. I needed this reminder.

Interesting that you would think God is working only for his glory and somehow giving us the short end…I think most of us would have that same thought from time to time. Great insight. Yep – he’s using even our trials to do us good – and more good than we can even imagine. Thanks for your example of humility and your comments.

Thanks for the quote from Valley of Vision! Can’t do any better than that.

“Help me to see that although I am in the wilderness it is not all briars and barrenness. I have bread from heaven, streams from the rock, light by day, fire by night, thy dwelling place and thy mercy seat. I am sometimes discouraged by the way, but though winding and trying it is safe and short; Death dismays me, but my high priest stands in its waters, and will open me a passage, and beyond is a better country. While I live let my life be exemplary, When I die may my end be peace.”

If I had such a tough time in Kansas, I don’t think I could survive the Sinai region…I need constant entertainment and amusement. Thanks for commenting!

(On a side note, i remember on honeymoon travelling on a bus through the Sinai region. Boring as anything, every 5mins Babs or i would declair to eachother “Look there’s a bush, Moses saw one of those on fire & not burn out!”
It made me sympathetic to the moanings of the Hebrews & i know i’d have been complaining like mad!)