Aging--100 Words

Aging.

No fun in that word.

Joints hurt. Memory shortens. Hair falls out. Teeth let loose. Medicine list gets longer.

I’ve heard people say this about birthdays (implying it relates to aging): “Well, beats the alternative.”

As if dying is all bad.

But, is dying worse than aging?

Not always.

Who among would choose aging over death if it meant Alzheimer’s was our constant companion.

Who would choose aging over death if it meant enduring the ravages of cancer.

Have we forgotten Paul’s words: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Dying isn’t always bad.

Pain--100 Words

Pain.

Does anyone like pain?

I know people who enjoy inflicting pain. Satan relishes our pain.

But, do you like experiencing pain?

I doubt it. It seems we are wired more for joy than pain. Peace vs. uncertainty. Known vs. unknown.

An anonymous writer said, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” That seems to be true. Others may inflict pain on me, they can’t cause me to suffer.

Jesus experienced pain on the cross. But, the victory was His in the end, “Father into Your hands…”

That’s our choice as well—giving our pains to God rather than keeping them.

What in the World is Going On?

What a weekend and first part of the week we have had. In the midwest and south, we've once again endured tornados and storms. Living in Alabama for much of my life has meant a constant swirling of tornados through the years. This year has seemed worse than normal, and the count sure verifies that thinking. Nearly two dozen people were killed in the tornados. Our prayers go out to the families who lost loved one and material possessions.

Then, on Monday, the massive earthquake in China. The earthquake has now claimed more than 10,000 lives. What a heartbreaking tradegy! Relief efforts are slowed by not being able to reach the area hardest hit. People are still buried under rubble, aid is slowly moving toward the people in need. We can pray that relief efforts will move more quickly, and that thousands of lives can still be saved.

A normal question at a time like this is this one: "Where was God when all of this was happening?" Or, "Why did God not stop it?"

I don't have all of the answers, but I do know this beyond a shadow of doubt--God is right where He has always been. God is on His throne, loving His creation and His created ones.

While many of us haven't experience an earthquake or a tornado, many of us suffer other types of loss. Some of us are suffering with cancer, joblessness, divorce, and countless other problems. Where is God? Why does He not stop these from happening?

God is soverign. God is in control. God makes the decisions, not us! God ulitimately knows what is best for us, we don't. While we may be well educated and smart, we cannot possibly know everything we need, or even what the future holds. Only God knows our future. Only God knows what will happen in the next second. Not us. We are not God.

So, even though we may not understand why things happen or why God allows them, we cannot doubt that God is in control and He will do what is ultimately best for us. "Best" as determined by His will, not "best" as determined by our limited view.

May God bless you in whatever struggle you find yourself in today. May He grant you His wisdom, strength, and hope.