Doubt

We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us;

we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.

C. S. Lewis

I want obedient kids, without the effort of discipline. I want to fit in my "skinny jeans" without giving up chocolate. Or how about this one: letting go of past hurts to walk in freedom. 

I justify. I rationalize. I twist God's word to fit my circumstances. We can't imagine how forgiving someone who deserves to be hated could possibly be the best for us. Do you know what I mean?

C. S. Lewis possessed the incredible ability to clearly say what we all think.

We know that God has a "good, pleasing and perfect will" for our lives. (Romans 12:2) We want it. God, give me all that good and pleasing stuff your word promises. And give it to me now!

Yet, we seem unwilling to grab the first part of the verse so firmly, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." (same verse, emphasis mine)

We want everything good now. We don't want to work for it. We certainly don't take time to ask God if the things we want are good, pleasing and perfect. We decide, in our own minds, what that might be and expect God to bless it.

When they don't turn out, we get mad. We blame God. We wonder how He could possibly have forgotten us. Poor God. We ignore him and listen to our feelings to determine what's good. Then, when it doesn't work out, he gets blamed. Unfair! And unbiblical!

You know what I mean?

God doesn't want us to cram him into our lives. He wants us to follow HIS plan for our lives: His good, pleasing and perfect plan. Our fears hold us back. We can't imagine that doing things God's way could possibly be better. We see pain, honesty, vulnerability and run.

Let's look at forgiveness God's way. He says let go of the past. (2 Corinthians 5:17) He says to forgive others, no matter how much they wrong us. (Matt. 18:21-23) But, we can't imagine anything filling the hole that leaves behind. We can't fathom that God could replace the hurt with anything. So we wallow in the pain. We hold on tight, clutching to hurt like a friend. 

Yet, there is no hurt in letting go. God replaces it with peace, hope, fullness, and freedom. Yes, freedom. Jesus wants to carry that pain and get it off our backs. (Galatians 5:1)

C. S. Lewis understood. Our minds fill with doubts. We convince ourselves that God will allow new pain to come in and we hold on to the familiar. 

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Let's transform our minds in Christ and give ourselves (and our family members) a most precious gift: forgiveness.