His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, author Harold S. Kushner tells the story of Martin Gray, who survived the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust. He married, built a successful life, and raised a family. One day his wife and children were killed in a forest fire that destroyed their home in the south of France. Some demanded an inquiry as to whether there was negligence or someone was at fault. But Gray refused. He said that accusing others for your misery only makes you lonelier. He maintained that life has to be lived for something, not against it.
An awful lot of us are living our lives against something. We are seeking blame or making excuses. Basically, we are ready to “curse God and die.” I once knew someone who turned her back on God after her father’s death. In her words, “What kind of God would allow my daddy to suffer like that?!” Indeed, it does often seem hard to comprehend the hardships some face. But giving situations a purpose and meaning often makes them more bearable Kushner points out that soldiers who lose a limb fighting for something have a better outlook than those who suffered the same in jury in a car or boating accident.
It often seems that in order to maintain our integrity, we must find the purpose for everything… and it had better be a good one! In other words, when troubles come, we give up on God and take whatever means necessary to survive and/or feel good. We are easily persuaded to “curse God and die” – inwardly, at least, if not literally.
My prayer for each of us today is that we would not sit back and wait on God to show us His purpose for our lives in each situation… but that we would endeavor to find it and to create good outcomes out of even seemingly bad situations. THIS is the mark of integrity… to consistently maintain our values, principles, and expectations… to never waiver in our faith - even when things are crumbling around us. The person of integrity doesn’t ask, “Why me, LORD?” He/she asks, “Where do I go from here? What are You showing me?”
These are the questions for today… “What is God showing you? And what are you doing with it?” Will you give meaning to the things that happen in your life - with God’s help - or are you ready to curse Him and die? Are you living your life for something… or against it? The choice is yours. Our reactions to people, situations and circumstances gives them meaning – either positive or negative. What are yours saying about you… and your faith in God to handle all things?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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