Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … who for the joy set before him endured the cross … — Hebrews 12:2
Is God happy?
At the end of the movie, Schindler’s List, Schindler looks around at his remaining possessions and suddenly realizes what they truly cost in terms of human life. He spent money on a car, for example, and, as a result, that money could not be used to ransom people from the Holocaust.
We Christians struggle with the same feelings. No matter how much we give, no matter how much we serve, deeply hurting and desperately needy people remain. For a few more pennies we could buy an antibiotic injection and save a life somewhere. How do we cope with overwhelming pain all around us? To be honest, I think most of us have shut down our ability to feel the hurt of others — that’s our way of coping.
But God doesn’t shut down anything. His heart is wide open to feel the hurt and pain of a whole world. Not only does he feel our pain, but He experiences the pain of sin, of rejection, of eternal loss. He gave His best, only to see most people walk away. Broad is the road that leads to destruction.
"Are you happy, God?" I asked Him.
"Supremely happy," He seemed to say.
How can that be possible? How can God feel so much pain, and yet be happy?
… continued tomorrow …
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.