If this is the first post in this two-post series, you really need to have a read of the first post in this series, HERE, which deals with the not-so-God-good posture of those who come to the Creator and ask the perennial question of… WHY?
To affirm that this is a perennial question, affirms both its longevity in the human existence, but also the context that encourages its reality, which is suffering. Therefore, for those believers who are presented with this question, pain is generally in the offing, and such questions have deep cisterns working within the individual.
Therefore, such questions to answer are never mere abstractions!
In the previous post, I pointed out some not-so-good factors that can encourage this activity of the soul, and in this second post, one that I believe both honours God, while affirming this desire of the soul, I will point out a perspective that encourages this pursuit!
The… “God I am Weak and Need You” Posture
In many respects, very few words may be required in this section, which may be a welcome word for you weary reader, but I am want to wordiness! The reason for such is that the previous affirmations may have negatively highlighted and contextualised what is positively missing! However, while affirming what shouldn’t be there may be a mirror to reflect what should, such may not effectively shape what such an image of a person may look like. So… I will digress a little, and paint a little picture for you!
The Word of God affirms that God rejects the proud, and while such is true, it is equally true to affirm that the Proud reject God, affirming that they don’t need Him. While such a position definitely has satanic origins, as those who fall into such conceit are committing a very old sin! While this previous point speaks more to the unbeliever, it is also true that functionally, the paradigm of pride loves the limelight, and is already ready to party with our depravity, which means that we too often walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit, highlighting this ruinous reality, which wants to sing, I Did It My Way!
If I am honest, and generally it is the best policy (humouring you), it is only recently that I have come to begin to understand the God I am Weak and Really Need You posture. What has been catalytic to seeing this in my own life has been suffering. As I am writing this portion of the post, I have ventured into the lounge, and on the TV is the DVD, UP, which highlights in a strangely real way, the trials and vicissitudes of life (It is very good)! The point is that in the living of life, we will ALL go through moments, times, and even periods when this life will seem to smash us in the mouth, and seek to dominate our existences with its perspective.
Ironically, the very reality and perspective we need to hold onto at such times, is produced as we submit to viewing these things through the biblical paradigm, as we live through issues that produce such dislocation with the reality we desire!!! This is an important truth to grasp, with failure to submit at such times, affirming our spiritual state!
So how do we get to this reality. Let me practically explain how it has looked for me…
Generally, like a brute beast, you will find me getting to my wits end, as I am practically affirming that walking in the flesh is a fool-proof avenue to failure, but nevertheless, stupidity loves the company of repetition, and so, after a period of time of flapping my wings, it will dawn on me… graciously… that I can not do this on my own, that I weak and helpless, that I need some assistance outside of myself, and that someone else knows best!
It is when I realise this and come to God like the broken man that I am, that I begin to seek His face, to seek His assistance, to seek His help, as what I really need at such times is not really the answers… but HIM. Therefore, asking God what is going on, asking God WHY is this situation happening, at such moments, is not reflective of a man demanding God to explain Himself, or of a man affirming to God,How Could You! However, it is a man affirming his reliance, dependence, and submission to the Father, seeking assistance from the only source that can help in such times, reflective of the one’s inability to grasp such an understanding, without the interaction from the all-good God!
This perspective approaches God in weakness, where the cry to God of WHY?, reflects more on our inability to grasp the reality at such times, more than on our disputations with God’s will and wisdom in our ways in our life, and our demanding that God explain Himself.
Therefore, asking God why can be the most submissive call for help, as it reflects the absolute dependence of child in need of the Parent!
Conclusion
If, in the reading of these post (assuming someone will), the details within have been more of a mental abstraction that a personal pilgrimage, you are missing the stars for the trees! Something much closer to your reality is blocking your perspective to the truly grand presentation that I believe the Creator would want to communicate with you! Probably you feel very in control of your existence, or have not had anything transpire that highlights such an absurd position! God will get His Wo-and-Man!
If this reading has been very applicable to your context, I pray that you will have a growing reality where you will see your circumstances through your God, and not your God through your circumstances, thereby right sizing reality!
Finally, let me affirm something that I remember from Tim Keller, in one of the Sermons, when speaking about a given context, he makes the point that the real problem is that at the core of our beings, we really don’t believe! Below all that has been affirmed, unbelief is the corrupting source that undermines all that follows. It just so happens that suffering really does highlight if we truly believe!
Do you?!
Until Next Time
I am Jonny King
January 14th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
“It just so happens that suffering really does highlight if we truly believe!”
I agree with this statement! Suffering can make or break one’s faith.
(No, I didn’t just read that last bit! I read the first article as well!)
January 14th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Hey Bob…
I would never call into question your blog fidelity. Trust it was worth your time!
Hope all is travelling well with you and yours!