A thought for this painful week.

This week I have doubted God.

In a weak moment, I lashed out at him in anger on behalf of a friend who is dealing with way more sorrow than I can even comprehend. I doubted His goodness. I doubted His plan for her. I doubted whether He even really listens to us when we cry out to Him, as it seems as if He already has His plans made out for our lives, like it or not.

But then I stumbled across this passage:

I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked: "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds." Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples. (Psalm 77:1-14 NIV)

How quickly I can forget the awesome wonders my God has done for me, for us, and for generations before us. He has called us out of darkness and placed us under His tender care. He has provided for us, and will not stop doing so. My God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph...a God who has shown mercy and miracles in countless stories across the course of time. Who am I to doubt the goodness of a God who even cares for the well-being of a sparrow?

This next part of our journey will bring tears, sorrow, and pain as we struggle to comprehend the question "Why?". But I know at the end of the day, we believers have eternal security in the palm of a loving Father. And that, my friends, is a beautiful place to be.