Life is difficult

this is definitely one of those weeks.   i should be writing about the exhilaration of some amazing sports moments from the past couple of days,  but i just can’t bring myself to do it.

this morning i’m feeling the pain of friends.

i’m side by side with people who are hurting.   devastating news from doctors…lost jobs…marriages that are struggling… drug abuse…suicide threat…death of loved ones…major disappointments and betrayals…family dysfunction… homelessness…dwindling finances…dibilitating injury…

and it’s only wednesday.

two thoughts this morning:   i’ve said it before,  but it’s a privilege to walk with people through their struggle.   it’s not always easy.   most of the time, i struggle for words of comfort.   i refuse to give positive mental attitude quotes or make promises for god.   there are no simple answers or mystical fixes.   but there is presence.   the more,  the better.   for all of us.

the other thought i have is a reminder of how easy it is to sink into bad theology.  “if god is good, why does he let bad things happen to me?” as much as i desperately want to make god’s goodness the defining standard for all the things i want to happen,  i can’t.   nor can you.   good and bad co-exist in a broken world.

god’s essential goodness means i now have a standard for seeing good…and bad…and keeping them in perspective.   i don’t make (and ascribe) value.   god’s character does.   changing the situations we find ourselves in,  is not nearly as important as viewing the situations we find ourselves in.

joy will come again.

#pain #pastor #struggle