WHAT’S BEAUTIFUL
I love these lyrics by everlife:
Take a breath, easy now
My eyes are playing tricks on me
Tell me the mirror must be lying
It’s not what I want to see
How can I just be me
When I don’t recognize myself
Wishing I was something better
I want to be someone else
Lately I’ve been fighting with that girl in the mirror
Who decides what’s beautiful
We are all so different, not one is the same
Now it’s time that we can all decide
What’s beautiful
Look at her, so confident
Perfection, so appealing
She seems so happy but she is plastic
It’s not what I want to be
I deal with this every day
I’m slowly starting to break free
Learning how to truly love who I was made to be
Who I was made to be
Lately I’ve been fighting with that girl in the mirror
Who decides what’s beautiful
We are all so different, not one is the same
Now it’s time that we can all decide
What’s beautiful
I’ve had enough to see what’s fake
It’s always been my choice to make
Imaginary enemy no longer has control of me
We all define what’s beautiful
We all define, we will decide
We all define what’s beautiful
We all define, we will decide
Lately I’ve been fighting with that girl in the mirror
Who decides what’s beautiful
What’s beautiful
Lately I’ve been fighting with that girl in the mirror
Who decides what’s beautiful
We are all so different, not one is the same
Now it’s time that we can all decide
What’s beautiful
I LOVE YOU, HANNAH.
Hannah,
First of all… HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY!!!!! I love you so much and am so glad to be here. You have a special place in my heart. I want to share with you something that’s been on my heart lately. Inner beauty.
Since you were a little girl, the quest to be beautiful has bombarded you at every turn. From children’s stories such as “Snow White” and “The Ugly Duckling” that you read to the Barbie dolls that you played with to the comments such as “Who is the fairest of them all?” or “What a pretty little girl you are”—face it, beauty has become an all-consuming priority! Now that you are a teen, you might notice that others place even more of an emphasis on being beautiful. TV, movies, the cosmetic industry, and music tell you that if you want to be beautiful or have attention from guys, you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have a certain type of body. Look at Barbie, for example. She models perfect hair, long legs, a tini waist, and large chest. Studies have shown that if Barbie were blown up into a real human, she would have to walk on all fours because her waist is so small that her spine could not possibly hold the rest of her up. We are bombarded with the media’s ridiculous expectations for women to appear thin, curvy, and fit. As much as our culture would like us to believe otherwise, it is simply not possible for us to fulfill these expectations. The beauty of a woman is not the make up she wears. It’s not the clothes she buys. Beauty isn’t measured by the body she displays, or the length of her hair. The beauty of a woman is the love she gives, the passion she holds, and the grace she shares. I believe that a beautiful woman makes time to be with those she loves and has compassion on others, but also possesses a special kind of confidence. Not a proud, arrogant, “I’m better than you”, kind of confidence. It’s a kind of confidence that comes from knowing your worth and value as a daughter of Christ. God doesn’t create anything “bad”. He made you and you’re His daughter. A beautiful woman is confident that God made her the way she is for a purpose and He loves her and cares for her. He gives her responsibilities because he believes in her. Jesus gives two great commandments: (1) Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; (2) Love your neighbor as yourself — there is no third command to love yourself. Jesus is saying, “as you already love yourself”.
As you already probably know, I’ve struggled with this concept of inner beauty quite a bit. I just returned last night from four months in a Christian treatment center for anorexia nervosa. For so long I believed that I wasn’t good enough and that I needed to look a certain way and have a certain body type in order to be loved. My prayer for you is for you to not only know, but also believe you are Christ’s beautiful daughter. You are beautiful. It shows when you comfort your sisters, when you give someone a hug, when you smile at someone passing by, and it also shows when you take time for yourself and rest. Your beauty shows when you truly believe God made you beautiful. Take it from me, someone who has struggled with this, someone who loves you, and believes you are absolutely gorgeous because you are made special by God to be his daughter. I know it is hard to believe sometimes. Somehow, on our worst hair day, or the time of the month when our clothes fit a bit tighter and our nerves are on edge, it is hard to imagine that the God of all creation would consider us beautiful. But He does. Even on our bad hair days! Society, on the other hand, will try and tell us that beauty is only skin deep- and that the newest mascara or blush or diet trend will be the answer to our quest for beauty. But don’t be persuaded by the cosmetic industry. Listen to our Father who created us in His image. God is head over heels in love with you and me, and desires for us to reflect his light to the world. I love you so much! Love, Julia
LYRICS BY MY FRIEND, JUDITH NERGARD
Left out on my own
With nothing left to give
I’ve fallen on my knees
I’ve lost everything
Broken and Betrayed
There’s nothing I can say
Oh what I’d give for you
to take this all away
I want to see you Lord
to come out of my shadows
Fill me with your love teach
me your ways
I want to live like you
and to love the way you do
Pour out your mercy over me
Sunken so low
Enclosed in only me
with nowhere left to go
You’re all I see…
Lyrics by my friend: Judith Nergard
PERFECTION?
Barbie doll is the flawless illustration of an idealized, American beauty: lean legs, ample chest, thin waist, tan skin tone, and luscious blonde hair. These features set the standards for girls throughout the nation; they worship and envy this “beauty.” Girls strive for something entirely unfeasible. It has been proven that if Barbie’s proportions were applied to an actual woman, she would be incapable of walking on two legs. Why does America put an emphasis on such an intangible form? And why have countless girls forgotten their true beauty? Barbie’s reputation as a timeless symbol of ideal female beauty represents an unrealistic view of perfection, which causes her to be the subject of controversy. In history, the Greeks stressed an importance of their gods being displayed in an idealized, perfect human form. A statue of the goddess of love Aphrodite would be displayed with a soft, slight roundness. Rather than have her ribs visible and a size zero waist, she has a healthy and curved form. So many girls today feel the need to add more artificial pieces to their bodies, with breast augmentation and liposuction. They go to such extremes to fit perfection in the eyes of others. Girls need to stop forcing themselves into the cookie-cutter version of beauty and learn to accept the true beauty they possess. Barbie’s evolution over the past 50 years has paralleled the growth of the roles of women in human society.
Everyone has a different experience of Barbie and perspective is fundamental. Each situation will be contextual and it would be difficult to make a blanket statement about the nature of an action – a child’s interaction with a Barbie doll is influenced by many things including temperament and situational context, and most importantly a parent’s teaching. Barbie is just a doll and although her connotations have become largely negative, the mere thought that an inanimate object can dictate and dominate the psyche and childhood experience of an individual sounds quite unlikely.
Some people believe that children view Barbie as only a toy, and that the real problem is how health is taught to kids. On the political side of things, the Virginia legislature is trying to fight the rise of childhood obesity by getting a law passed that would mandate 150 minutes of physical education in school per week for students in grades K-8. Governor Bob McDonnell has yet to veto or approve the bill. Fairfax County Public Schools even got rid of chocolate milk in the county’s elementary schools this year, along with making other changes to make cafeteria food healthier. This change tests the hypothesis that children who are taught what foods are good to eat and how to be healthy will not strive to have a Barbie figure.
Many parents from around the world have argued that Barbie’s ultra-slim figure represents a ridiculous standard for a body shape. They say that many girls grow up thinking that they must have the same figure as Barbie or there is something wrong with them. Studies have shown that the more time spent with something, the more influence it has over them.
In 1965 Mattel came out with a “Slumber Party Barbie” that came complete with a bathroom scale permanently set at 110 pounds in case you were wondering what Barbie would weigh if she were somehow enlarged into a real woman. The doll also came with a book entitled How to Lose Weight. Inside this book it gave the advice: “Don’t Eat”. The matching Ken doll also came with slumber party accessories, but his were milk and cookies, sending a very different message. These ultra-thin images and messages not only lowered young girls’ body esteem but also decreased their satisfaction with their actual body size, making them desire a thinner body. In addition, One study found more than half of women ages 18 to 25 would prefer to be run over by a truck than to be overweight. Even if they have not been diagnosed with eating disorders, these women clearly do not have healthy body images. These results are very important and show that children can be influenced at a very early age. Parents need to be aware of that and take the appropriate action
Until children are about seven years old, the part of their mind called the subconscious, is wide open and taking in everything going on around them. The subconscious mind has no filters, no evaluation processes, no cognitive challenge mechanisms. It simply absorbs and stores information exactly as presented. By the time they complete the first seven-year cycle of life, their conscious mind is starting to take over. That is why their subconscious beliefs and values run their lives as adults, until they dig them out, make them conscious, and make different decisions. Imagine a four year old playing with Barbie. She might spend hours with that doll, sleeping with it, taking it to family events; little fingers struggling with the little clothes, mixing blouses and skirts and trousers and jackets in weird color and style combinations; handling every part of Barbie’s thin thighs, huge chest, long blonde hair and tiny waist. She is taking in the size, shape and proportions of that female body, while her own conscious mind is not able to filter, sort and make decisions about the unrealistic reality of the doll she loves.
Is it all Barbie’s fault? Clearly, the answer is “no”. Look around at the world; images of unrealistically thin women, often semi-naked, are used now more than ever to sell everything from cars to houses. Parents have to make a stand when it comes to the nonsense being dished out to kids about what is and is not popular and what is and is not acceptable. Parents can choose to give their children other dolls that do not promote an unrealistic or even unhealthy body image. Parents can give their children toys other than dolls. Parents can also discuss the messages toys convey with their children. Even young children are capable of developing a critical eye towards these things if provided with some guidance in that direction.
Anyway, that’s just something to think about. Please message me if you have comments! I love hearing from my followers!
love,
Julia
OUR ROLE IN NATURE
I become really sad when I hear people say that Christians take the earth for granted and misuse it for selfish reasons before heading off to heaven. I believe we, as Christians have a specific role on earth as sons and daughters of Christ….
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Before the fall God’s creation was perfect and he gave man the duty of taking care of it. After man failed, many natural disasters occurred, like the flood in Genesis chapter six. After seeing the rainforest, snowy mountains, and desert on summer seminar, I am convinced that God has given us these gorgeous landmarks to take care of. The Bible tells us, “The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). This is proof that God’s intentions are for us to nurture his creation as servants of the Lord. The Bible says that God expects, even demands, that we be stewards of His creation. Scripture is undisputable. God created the different species of plants and animals, blessed them, protected them and made a covenant with them. Every time we, as humans, drive a species to extinction, we are stating that what God created, we can destroy. There is no scripture to support that view. Every time a species goes extinct, we are ignoring God’s will for us to manage his creation. We are at the crossroads, able to choose to save or to destroy. It is our choice. Christians are called to be stewards, to nurture, to protect, to preserve His creation. He expresses in Leviticus 25:23-24, “The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land”.
While on summer seminar a question popped up in my mind. What keeps Christians from fulfilling the duty to preserve God’s creation? Well, I thought of some common excuses. For example, some say, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through”. But temporal as our bodies are, we still take care of our appearance and health; we take showers, brush our teeth, try to stay physically fit, and use the care of physicians and nurses. Similarly, we care for our buildings. Construction of skyscrapers, for example, is only approved when a demolition plan is filed along with the construction plan (to allow their safe destruction a hundred or so years later). Thus, even buildings whose destruction is planned are still protected and kept up with security requirements and custodial care. Biblical teachings reinforce our responsibility for the care and keeping of creation.
Others justify their reasoning by saying, “I don’t want to be an extremist”. Trying to scare us into action is far less favorable than working to care for creation out of a love for the Creator. But, because of the sinfulness of human beings and the rationalization that people may bring to creation’s destruction, it may also be essential to bring the message of doom of Revelation 11:18, “The time has come…for destroying those who destroy the earth.” There is no doubt about it: for those who might seek everlasting life, the scene of destruction as exposed in Revelation 11:18 because of participation in the destruction of the earth, is gloomy. While God’s message should be sufficient to bring people to imitate God’s love for the world, it often is not, and the warning of Revelation 11:18 might be needed. Our working for creation, however, ideally, should not be out of a sense of impending doom, but from a deep love and obedience to Earth’s Creator.
Many people also put forward their word of defense by saying, “Other creatures and the environment should not be put ahead of people because people are more important”. This is a typical excuse for not saving animals threatened with extinction. Our first question here should be “what does the Bible teach?” We have, of course, an actual example we can recognize in the story of the flood in Genesis 6-9. In looking at this passage, we should ask: Who perishes? Who is saved? Are species less important than individual people? Is the environment less important than the people it supports? Clearly, people are important to God, but so are the other creatures, and having the unique responsibility in creation for proving God’s love to the rest of creation, people need to care for creation. After seeing the beautiful mountains in Washington and all the complexities of God’s creation, it would be hard to claim that God does not believe nature to be important. People are important. We can even say that people are more important than other creatures - because they uniquely have both the character and the responsibility to show God’s love, toward each other and (like Noah) toward other creatures. Thus, we, being made in God’s image, have the ability and duty to care for the creatures God has made. But we see what happens when we neglect our duty, as in Noah’s day, when people failed to fulfill the responsibility and work opposing God’s will for creation. The result in Noah’s time was that the faithless people who rejected their responsibility were destroyed, while faithful Noah and the animal families were saved. Noah believed God created the world and its creatures, believed in God’s ability to save the threatened creation, acted on what he believed and, with his family and the animal families, was saved by obedience to God. The people who failed to recognize and act upon their duty as stewards of God’s creation, were wiped out. Saving animals was more important to God than saving those who were destroying what God designed. What we learn from Noah’s obedient life is that our task - as God’s important image-bearing people - is to act on what makes us important. We are to live in obedience to God; we like Noah must be an example of God’s love for the world. Our importance does not give us superiority over other creatures so much as it grants us responsibility for them. We must be going about the care and keeping of the creatures as Noah did. Just a thought. (:
With Love,
Julia
MY CASE FOR GOD
Dear Jane*,
On my birthday, as a gift to you, I began writing this letter in regards to our latest discussion about my faith. I am telling you this, not condescendingly because you deserve better than that, but from my heart. Please allow me to have my say. I am writing you since I might not have another opportunity to due to your age. At age 79, and in your condition, you don’t have much time left to understand the significance of a relationship with God, nor do you wish to understand the consequences of rejecting Him, but you still ought to take this chance to dig deeper into these crucial issues. I hope you will read all of this before you leave to meet your Maker. I know at times it makes you curious and angry that I choose to trust God as my savior, especially because of His willingness to allow suffering. This letter will hopefully explain why I do.
The Bible says that, first, you must acknowledge that you are a sinner and that God requires payment for those sins, and to recognize that you are saved from the penalty of death because of God’s love. (Have you ever heard the phrase: “Jesus died for our sins”?) I know that you think you don’t have any sins, but the Bible says that you do. God says that everyone has sinned. Notice that no one is left out of this decree: Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.
You might think, “Why would a loving God send anyone to Hell just for not believing in Him or for committing a few sins that didn’t include rape, robbery, or murder? And what about the innocent victims of such evil? How can a loving God allow that?” Because God desired to create man in His own image in a world where genuine love was expressed, he gave his creation free will. Because genuine love can never be coerced, it was crucial that God’s people have freedom. Mankind therefore had the choice either to obey God’s loving commands or to rebel against them. Because we have repeatedly chosen to disobey God, we have to bear the curse of our own rebellion against God’s will. This means that not only do we have to deal with the consequences of our own sins, but we also are affected by the evil of others. Thankfully, what God did, was offer us an escape from the mess we make and the gift of eternal life with Him, taking up our sin and bearing our burdens, if we just lay them at the foot of the cross, in surrender to Him. It is a free gift, but a gift is not our own until we accept it. It doesn’t cost you anything to place your trust in Him, but to deny your sins and refuse to accept that He paid for them is a slap in the face to God for His free gift to you. He is long-sufferingly and patiently waiting and desires us to accept and receive the free gift.
Going further along the lines of “the problem of Evil”, there are many distinctive responses. None of them is an entirely adequate argument alone, and I’m not saying I have all the answers, but together they pretty much eliminate the theory that the existence of evil negates the claim that God is real. I think those of us who suffer want to know why we’re suffering to begin with. If God had the ability to eliminate suffering and evil, and he didn’t, then why didn’t he? And if he didn’t remove suffering and evil, how can he be referred to as good at all (let alone perfectly good)? First of all, we need to understand that all creation was created good. As God looked out on all he had made, he declared that it is good. Satan was good, until he turned against God, taking for granted the gift of free will that I talked about earlier. Satan took what God intended to be good and twisted and distorted it, turning it into evil. It wasn’t God who made a mistake when creating Satan, but it was Satan’s misuse of free will that brought forth evil. Genesis 3 confirms that it was when man entered the world and made the decision to disobey God’s command that evil was brought to this world. Therefore, we need to understand that the world as God made it is fundamentally good. We, however, supply the evil of this world when we sin against our Maker, consequently creating a fallen world.
You may still think, “but there is just so much evil in this world like Hitler, terrorism, the Rwandan genocide, slavery, and so on…” This false belief states that the excess of evil proves God does not exist. However, how can we truly know what “excess” evil is? Had terrorists only hit one of the trade centers instead of both, would the act really be less evil? We tend to highlight the evil that seems more severe, when in reality it is not the excess but the evil itself that is at the heart of the problem.
I learned about these three really neat arguments that I hadn’t really thought of before that might help you understand the importance of faith in Jesus. One of them is called the Teleological argument. This argument is based upon examination of the nature of the world. The main point of this line of reasoning is therefore that the world is too complicated and well ordered to have been formed by chance or random change. For example, when we walk into a room and flip on a light switch, we do not assume that random chance somehow caused the light to turn on. Why? Because it has the clear characteristics of design—it has a specific function; it is particularly complex. In no scientific field is design thought to be spontaneous; it always implies a designer, and the greater the design, the greater the designer. Thus, the universe would call for a designer beyond itself. I hope these concepts are helping you understand the viewpoint I take on faith and I really hope you start to consider them, Jane*. I have two more ways of approaching the case for God I would like to share with you.
The cosmological argument derives its title from observing the world around us. It starts with what is most apparent in reality: things exist. It is then reasoned that the origin of those things’ existence had to be a “God-type” thing. All things that have beginnings had to have a cause. The world had a beginning; thus, the world had a cause. That cause, being outside the whole world, is God. Some people may claim that some things are caused by other things, but this does not answer the problem. This is because those other things had to have causes, too, and this can’t go on perpetually. Are you still with me, Jane*? Please keep reading, I promise you that this information is all worthwhile.
Lastly, the Moral Law argument starts with the idea that all people acknowledge some moral code. We all believe that some things are right, and some things are wrong. Every time we disagree over right and wrong, we appeal to a higher law that we believe everybody is conscious of, holds to, and is not free to randomly change. Right and wrong imply a higher standard or decree, and law requires a lawgiver. Because the Moral Law exceeds humanity, this worldwide law requires a universal lawgiver, God. For example, we know that even the most isolated tribes who have been cut off from society live by a moral code similar to everybody else’s. Some differences do exist, but qualities like honesty, loyalty and bravery are universal.
Jane*, I really do hope these ideas help you to consider the benefits of rethinking where you are headed and for whom you are living. Jane*, these are not condescending words. I respect you and love you. I respect you as an intelligent woman and a loving grandmother, mother, and wife. I am purely sharing with you my reasons for placing my trust in God. I do so in hope that you might find similar understanding. It’s not really an argument I am offering; rather I am offering the opportunity of an experience. No guarantees, but the chance of (as doubtful as it may seem!) — experiencing God.
I wish you all the best. I want you to always know I love you.
With Love,
Julia
WHO INSPIRES ME
I got the idea from my friend’s blog to write about who inspires me so here it goes…
People who live out their faith
Children
People who sincerely apologize
People who have patience
People who embrace their natural beauty
People who use their voice
People who show their love to those who seem undeserving of it
People who respect the earth (I’m not a tree-hugger, but I believe we have the responsibility given by God to care for his creation)
Artistic/crafty people
Seeing random acts of kindness (letting someone go ahead of you in line, helping someone with a flat tire, helping a pregnant woman carry her groceries, spending with an elderly man or woman, helping a single mother who seems to be juggling to many tasks etc.)
People who listen because they care
Hearing the memories of elderly people
Reading through my prayer journal (seeing how God has answered each of my prayers)
People who speak cool languages like Swahili
Watching people breakdance
People who do much for others while expecting nothing in return
People who love those whom others judge
WHO IS GOD?
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When questioning the relevance of the Bible, if the Bible is God’s Word, and the issue of God and suffering, it is vital to look to the scriptures. Many people get lost when they are too quick to settle on an answer to questions like these. We need to take our knowledge of God and compare it to the Truth. When we look into the scriptures we will find out more of who God is and we will begin to notice how His Word relates to every aspect of our life. We find out that the Bible is God’s Word, and that our suffering should point us towards God.
I full-heartedly consider the Bible to be God-breathed and believe it is relevant to today’s world. Just because there are slight differences in the word choice among translations, does not indicate that the Bible can be discredited. As far as reliability is concerned, it is only fair to keep in mind that the Bible contains the best documented text of any book in human history. Perhaps the most remarkable support comes from the Dead Sea scrolls, which were found in 1947 after lying in the Qumran caves for nearly 2000 years. It was in those caves that they found thousands of pieces from the Old Testament, and some dating back nearly one thousand years before any of the previous findings. The Bible is the Word of God and if we fixate over minor differences, we will fail to see what God is teaching us. Looking at the different translations, they all point towards identical lines of reasoning and do not contradict each other philosophically.
But is the ancient book really relevant to the issues of our hectic, post-modern world? This is a question asked by those of us who are racing through life with little time for reflection on their purpose. But for those who are unexpectedly slammed onto a hospital, life takes on a much different quality. Suddenly, in the seemingly endless hours interrupted only by the ticking of the heart monitor, meals, and the monotonous noise of the NG tube, there is time to contemplate a new set of questions, timeless questions that have not altered much throughout the centuries. Does anyone really love me? What is my purpose here? How do I get in touch with God right now? Is there any hope for me?
It is then that these questions about the relevance of the Bible to our modern day lives tend to die away. The comfort and hope embodied in the Bible suddenly becomes completely relevant. Its diversity touches every age, every situation. There are wonderful stories for children, deeply emotional psalms, dialogue to engage the deepest philosophical questions, and the words of Jesus tackling the concerns of life, death and the eternity ahead.
Christians find the Bible relevant. For us, life is not simply an empty journey, a trip to acquire the biggest and latest gadgets until finally it is all over. From the pages of God’s word we discover our role in God’s design and kingdom, and how our lives are touched with purpose and value. And at the end there is more than a depressing destruction at the conclusion of a confused life, but a great reunion where we will meet Jesus face to face. Through my everyday life, through my happiest days, and through my sometimes-overwhelming difficulties of life, I have a Guide. I have a Father that will provide me with everything my family cannot and with my very need for each struggle and each worry. It is not in the form of a dead book, but it is a living guide for the journey.
Our journey with God as our guide is not merely simple and sweet. There are also many hardships of life: the doubts, the worries, the difficult relationships, and the losses. Many people when questioning the goodness of God are drawn to the issue of suffering. The issue of suffering and God’s goodness is a complicated one, but one that must ultimately be examined by believers. Here is a dilemma brought up by 18th century philosopher David Hume: “Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” At first glance this is certainly a challenging string of questions, but are Hume’s questions maybe making too basic of assumptions about the nature of both evil and God?
It seems we like to try and fit God into a box we label “goodness”. But what do we mean, by “goodness”? In the book of Job, after countless attempts to figure out the Creator, God shows up. And yet, He provides no answer to their questions. Instead, he asks questions of his own: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” and “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind?” It seems that God, by showing Job and the others how little they really knew, was saying that the matter of suffering is far too complex for the human mind to fully grasp. And Job, although still suffering immensely, wisely replies: “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
Now that we admit our lack of understanding about God’s character, we ask why He lets bad things happen to us, and why there is pain in the lives of people who are trying to follow God. What if we lived in a world where nothing bad ever happened to us? In a world where we lived a totally contented life without pain and suffering, what would happen to our faith? If we never had to endure any kind suffering, we would fail to appreciate the incredible sacrifice that our Savior has made for us. What would be our need for saving if there was no pain and loss? God would not be who he says He is if He took away our gift of free-will. He gave us free-will because he loved us so much he wanted us to experience genuine love, and because genuine love can never be coerced, it was crucial that God’s people have freedom. Without that freedom, we would not be human. Because of our sin, we, as humans, cause our own suffering. We inflict suffering on each other. However, God takes that suffering and brings good from it. He draws us closer to Himself and teaches us to become reliant on God. He protects us and picks us up every time we fall. If we let Him, He fills us with His love, comfort, compassion, encouragement, and hope.
Some may ask, “Who is this God who supposedly fills us with his love, comfort, compassion, encouragement, and hope?” An unknown God cannot be trusted, served, worshiped, or loved. You cannot have a relationship with someone you do not know. For that reason, it is of utmost importance to understand who God is. In contrast to many beliefs, the Bible conveys an accurate picture of who God is. It uncovers what He is like, what He has done and what He expects of us. It tells us our purpose and reveals His plan for His creation. God was never created, is entirely loving, just, holy, merciful, and He desires the best for us. God is holy and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, ”His eyes are too pure to look upon evil,” (Hab. 1:13). This does not suggest that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong. It is a way of describing how holy God is. God cannot sin. He is perfect. Not only does the Bible tell us the characteristics of who God is, but so does his creation. Have you ever traveled somewhere and looked out on an utterly breathtaking view? It is those times that I have learned more about God. I have learned of His power, His beauty, His majesty, His love, and His creativity. Psalm 19:1 tells us that “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Yes, the Bible gives us an accurate view of who God is and we can see those attributes through all that He has created. However, I will never fully understand who God is. He is too complex, and far beyond what my mind can even imagine. I am merely an eighteen year old growing up in this crazy world; God knows everything that is happening and can hear every cry and every word. He is with us always. He knows all intentions, and everyone’s heart. He is so remarkable and so far beyond humanity, that I cannot truly understand Him. I do not want to attempt to stuff God into a box and place a label on Him. If I did, I would be giving God way less credit than He deserves.
Thankfully, God has given us His Word and all of His creation to take care of. With these tools, I am able to catch a glimpse of God’s character. I learn enough from His Word and creation to know that He is all I need in this life, and that I am way less than deserving of His grace and mercy, yet because of His indescribable love, He gives it to me anyway. Through God’s Word I know that my suffering points me to Him because the scriptures promise that through the sin of this world, God will bring goodness. Scripture may not deal with the labels we stick on modern problems, but its message goes to the core issues dealt with in modern living. Allow God’s message to shape your understanding and your heart. It will change who you are, how you think and feel and consequently what you do.
With love,
Julia
