Worthy Words

Life doesn't always go the way you want it to, and sometimes you let bitterness and resentment build up. You shake your fist and ask, "God, why isn't life fair? Why am I not more successful? Why do I always get the bad breaks?" If God were a tyrant, he would just say, "You're going to take whatever life dishes out, and you're going to like it. And if you're unhappy, I don't want to hear about it." But that's not your God. He's like loving father, or a devoted friend, or an attentive husband. He cares, and he's ready to listen. Listen to what the LORD is saying: "Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. (Micah 6:1) You’re thinking, "If I said to God what I really wanted to say, he would strike me dead with a bolt of lightning.” Well He won’t, He could, but He won’t. Have you ever read the Psalms? They're not always filled with praise and hallel...

Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt like whatever you did would never be enough? I hear spouses complain about this, both children and parents complain about it, employees and employers complain about it — where they finally throw up their hands in frustration and say, "What do you want from me? I cannot meet your impossible demands!" Many people think this applies to God — that he has given us a list of expectations that is impossible to meet. This is the question that is asked in Micah 6:6-8. “What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, ...

Life isn't always fair. This isn't my favorite part about living in this world, but it's an unavoidable truth. Life isn't always fair. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, young or old, male or female. It doesn't even matter if you're religious or not. Life isn't always fair, all the time. Sometimes you're on the winning side. Sometimes you suffer when you don't deserve to suffer. Many times when people are on the receiving end of unfair treatment, they respond by becoming jaded and cynical. If you want to become cynical and jaded, you can find an "injustice" to become cynical and jaded about, because life is full of them on all points of the spectrum. When people are forced to face the reality that life isn't always easy, they become bitter. They become selfish. They become aloof. And they say, "From now on, I'm keeping my guard up. I'm looking out for number one. From now on, I will do unto others bef...