I’ve been writing a lot lately about the causes of doubt in our own lives, be it doubt in God’s existence or His purpose for us. But that’s the doubt that comes from our own lives, when we struggle with failure or frustrated desires.
I concluded last time by recalling that God is everywhere, and not just in our own circumstances. We have to remember that, because there’s another kind of doubt, one that arises when we look beyond our own circumstances. What are we supposed to make of God’s purpose when a newborn baby starves to death? What plan could God have possibly had for that baby?
That’s a tough question, and I don’t claim to know the answer. If we wanted to end poverty, we could. There’s enough money in this world. But it’s not going to happen, because sin is in the world. Selfishness will always keep that from happening.
So I think about the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.” As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to help bring the redemptive love of Jesus to the earth. That’s bringing the kingdom. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” That’s bringing the kingdom to earth.
I think He has a plan, a perfect plan, for how this is going to all work out. And there are so many ideas, so many talents, so many skill levels, so many different callings, and so many different passions among people that we are overflowing with opportunities to bring the kingdom. I don’t really know how much I can or cannot do. I know that I’m going to try to do as much as I can.
My biggest fear is that I’ll sit before the throne of God one day and He will say to me, “You gave me 90%. I needed one hundred.” I don’t want Him to say that. I want Him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
And I’m not working for my own salvation. That’s not what I’m doing. By the blood of Jesus, I am saved. No, what I’m trying to do is be a light. I’m trying to be a city on a hill. I don’t want to be one of those cities on a hill that didn’t light it up enough. I want to make sure that I’m hearing God correctly and that I’m doing what I need to do. My calling.
More on this next time. See you Friday.
Jeremy Affeldt 
Amazing post! Humble and on point…thank you. I really needed that light again. God bless.
Thanks for your thoughts on this very tough issue. I would like to deserve God’s approval, but I know I don’t. I pray that God will show me what to do each day and give me the heart to do it with love.
Gaaaah! What an inspiration you are!
May God continue blessing you with the fire to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!!! YOU rock
Wooooooooooo!!!!
I agree with you that we don’t always know why bad things happen to good people. But when I face trials in my life I notice that I draw closer to God. I rely on Him more and my faith is strengthened. I become more humble and better learn God’s plan for me as it pertains to this particular trial. I know that God speaks to us through the Holy Ghost and can give us the comfort and wisdom to continue.
Another thing, though, is that God has given His children agency, or the ability to choose what they will do during this like. Joshua 24:15 says “Choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The same goes for our actions; God allows people to act of their own free will. And sometimes the struggles of our lives are the results of the actions of others or even of ourselves. But through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can find joy amidst our sorrows. Our shoulders can be made strengthened to bear the burdens. And God will never give us more than we can bear.