God’s a Big Boy, He Can Take It

With the publishing of my first book, “All You Need is Love: Rediscovering True Love through Ancient Wisdom”, it occurred to me that I had more in my heart that I wanted to share with anyone willing to listen.   So, I decided to start a blog.  Not sure what a blog is or how to write one, but here I am.

When I think about who I am, why would I even care to throw myself into the “inter-web”?  The world of anger, attack, and public humiliation.  Because, like me, I have seen people seeking answers to the crazy, hard world we live in.  I have also seen people seeking to throw a “lifeline” to people in need.

I always liked the stories of the old Lighthouse Keeper, an old salt who studies the seas and takes to them to rescue anyone in danger. I have floundered in those rough seas of life. From my earliest memories, I have been spiritual, and I was raised in a family of ministers who took spirituality seriously. However, life threw me overboard at a young age, and I became a searcher for meaning. This search led me to formal training in the sciences and a career in R&D. While rewarding, it never addressed my deepest needs. So I studied religion, philosophy, and the works of spiritual writers. I even taught classes at many churches and groups, eventually abandoning each one. During this time, I was also an addict, wasting opportunities and hurting people I loved. Then, like the breaking weather on the sea after a storm, I gave up the fight and allowed that “still quiet voice” of my God to illuminate my questions, wants, and needs. Now I have a passion to be that lighthouse keeper and write about the struggles we all have so that maybe one person might make it to shore safely.

This brings me to the podcast I heard, where a person was sharing that they wondered why God seems silent when “the world is going to shit”.  This podcaster had done two shows last week.  The first show focused on the Epstein Files and the horrors they documented.  Deviancy, pedophilia, and sex trafficking were all through the files.  These acts were not done by unknown deviates in a dark back room; they were done by some of the most prestigious and powerful people in the world.   He had to take a deep dive into this filthy, dirty water, and before he could properly “shower”, he had to deal with another story.

When I heard the name of the camp I went to, I went to its website.  There I found this,

Located in the Ozarks and founded 100 years ago, Kanakuk operates as a fun-filled summer camp that specializes in developing Biblical knowledge and athletics, empowering kids to greater courage, confidence, and character. With over 70 activities on-site, we empower Kampers through providing opportunities based on their interests. We believe in the power of mentorship and developing courage through fun-filled activities, giving Kampers a truly transformative summer camp experience.

Sounds like a great place I would have wanted to go to.  Then I went to news outlets.

Kanakuk Kamps, a prominent Christian sports camp based in Branson, Missouri, has faced numerous allegations and lawsuits of child sexual abuse spanning several decades. Even the CEO knew about predatory behavior as early as 1999

Where are we safe?  This is why I wanted to jump into these turbulent waters.

People doing terrible things is not new.  The ancients wrestled with the same question as the podcaster.  Where is a loving God in all this?  Let’s look at King David and his response to troubles.  Remember, I said King.  How bad can it be for a King?

Psalm 22 says,

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?

My God, I call by day, but you do not answer;

by night, but I have no relief.

Suffering is universal.  Saint or sinner, rich or poor, powerful or weak, we all experience times of despair and hopelessness.  As they say, “Death comes to us all”.  But then, if you turn one page to Psalm 23, you get this from the same man.

The LORD is my shepherd;  there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down;

to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.

You set a table before me in front of my enemies;^*

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

So here, back-to-back, you have what appears to be a contradiction.  Was David Bipolar?  How can he shake his fist and scream at God, then turn around and absolutely gush over how good God is? 

What’s up?

This blog is not to answer the question of why God lets bad things happen to good people.  A blog cannot answer that and do any justice.  I will be addressing this at some length later, if you will stay with me. However, what I want to point out is that God’s a big boy.  There is nothing that will surprise Him or cause Him to love you less.

Unlike other belief systems, God created us, the birds, the noisy neighbor next door, and everything out of love.  While God is complete, He also desires to create.  That creation came by and through his love.  As a part of his perfect creation, he created our great-great-great-… grandparents.  It was originally perfect, but we decided that we wanted to be in charge, and everything went to “hell in a handbasket, literally.

So why Psalms 22 and 23?  God did not need us.  He was already perfect and complete.  He wanted us.  Even after our disobedience, he wanted a relationship with us.  He loves us so much that we can be brutally honest with Him.  He knows better than anyone the pains and suffering of this world.  So, he can not only take our pain and anger; he wants us to love him enough to share that raw, real emotion with Him.  He wants us to be transparent with Him.  Not for Him but for us.  God sees all, knows all, so nothing catches him by surprise.  He knows our struggles and weaknesses.  He loves us so much that he even sent his son to live with us.  Live in all the pain, misery, loneliness, and danger that we live in.  He was betrayed by one of his closest friends, falsely convicted, and sentenced to death.

This brings us again to Psalm 22.  What did Jesus say on the cross as he was being executed?

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

As so beautifully put by the Lutheran High School devotional blog,

This Psalm is clearly about suffering.  But there’s a tiny little word in verse 3 that changes everything: Yet.

“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.”

Even in immense pain and confusion, King David follows with what he knows to be true: God continues to be faithful, even when David doesn’t understand his circumstances. The Psalm ends with this climactic verse in 31: “They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it.”

Does that remind you of another of Jesus’ phrases on the cross? “It is finished.” Jesus can now promise righteousness for everyone. That means that all our suffering, all the ways we feel lost and betrayed on this sinful earth, will be redeemed because “yet, God is still enthroned.” ¹

And then this leads right into Psalm 23.  A psalm we have probably all heard.  One that speaks of comfort, protection, and safety.  One we may have heard as a child.  But right in the middle of this Psalm is verse 4.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 

This is a Psalm about comfort. Comfort for King David, comfort for Christ, and comfort for both you and me after we feel forsaken in our valleys or walk through what feels like death. 

So here we are back at the beginning.  God may indeed seem silent.  I do not know why.  I do know this: he will always be with us.  We can go to him like the perfect father we may not have had, and cry in his arms.  Cry and ask all the questions in your heart, and know that he will be there to walk through this with you.

Just don’t forget him in the good times… lol.

Until we meet again, God Bless!