Pastor Steve’s Blog August 5, 2019 I like reading various devotions because it gives God an opportunity to speak to me through those that write them. As I read one this past week, I heard myself saying, “This is really good stuff. Why didn’t I think of that?” So I want to share this devotion with you from Lysa TerKeurst entitled: “Why Would God Let This Happen?” I know we have all asked that question before. Lysa offers some great insights when we find ourselves in difficult situations. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10. “I wonder what would happen in our lives if we really lived in the absolute assurance of God’s love. I mean, as Christians we know He loves us. We sing the songs, we quote the verses, we wear the T-shirts and we sport the bumper stickers. Yes, God loves us. I’m not talking about knowing He loves us. I’m talking about living as if we really believe it. I’m talking about walking confidently in the certainty of God’s love even when our feelings beg us not to. I’m talking about training our hearts and our minds to process everything through the filter of the absolute assurance of God’s love. Period. Without the possible question mark. Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a precious mom whose eldest daughter is nearing thirty and has never had a boyfriend. The younger siblings have all gone through the whole dating thing and one is now engaged to be married. The eldest daughter sat on the side of her mom’s bed recently with tears slipping down her cheeks and said, ‘Why mom? Why can’t I find anyone to love me? What’s wrong with me?’ This mom was asking me for advice in helping her daughter process these questions. These feelings are real. These feelings are tough. And I’m sure if I were able to untangle all the emotions wrapped in and around these questions, somewhere deep inside I would find this girl doubting God’s love for her. But here’s the thing I’ve learned through my own heartbreak and doubt…we must process our hurts through the filter of God’s love, not through the tangled places of our hearts. When we process things through the tangled places of our hearts, often the outcome is, If God loves me so much, why would He let this happen? Instead when we process things through the filter of the absolute assurance of God’s love, the outcome is: God loves me so much, therefore I have to trust why He is allowing this to happen…. The devotion prayer: Dear Lord, You are good. And You are good at being God. Therefore, I trust Your plan and believe that You’re allowing this to happen for a reason. It may be hard, but I’d rather be close to You through a thousand difficult moments than apart from You in a thousand good ones. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”