By Erin Almand
Tonight I finished reading a book that I started this afternoon. (It was really engaging, ok? I realize this makes me an ber-nerd. I happen to be a fast reader.) Anyways, its a Christian book series, which generally I am pretty picky about, because most of them tend to be very formulated and cheesy. In this particular book, one of the main characters is killed. It would take too long for me to fully explain the plot (plus it would ruin it if anyone were reading it), but basically, shes in a coma for awhile and wakes up once but goes back in and eventually dies in surgery at the age of only thirteen.
It was really sad, but thats not the point. The point is that her mother is really angry with God. She cant understand why He would take her daughter when she was so young and didnt get a chance to really live. A few weeks later, the neighborhood puts on a play that the girl had written, cast, and then let her friend direct. Its called The History of the World, and it basically goes through the whole Bible.
At the end, it shows Jesus meeting people outside of Heaven. There is a man with leprosy that He heals and brings into Heaven, a deaf girl He heals, and then a girl with bandages on her head He heals and takes into Heaven. This is symbolic as in the story, Beth, the girl who ends up dying, is killed because of a head wound. She dies in surgery because her brain stops functioning.
I cried then, at the part where the girl in Beths play is healed and brought into Heaven. See, sometimes we cant understand or grasp Gods plan; it doesnt make sense (I think this happens a lot). We try to rationalize what happens by human standards, but human logic fail.
It doesnt work that way.
Im crying again just writing about it. The point is this: God always has a plan, even if we cant see or grasp it. You can try to figure out God by logic, by reasoning, by laws and rules. Yet at some point, our brains cannot comprehend Him.
You cant see Him or trust in Him because bad things happen, because little girls and boys die young, because of war and hatred and crime. Even then, despite our hatred and disbelief and hurt, our desperate need to know why, even through our blame and sins and arrogant running of our own lives even then God is there.
I think somewhere, deep down inside, way in the bottom of your heart, buried in your gut, you know its true. God exists. He loves you for you, no matter what you did, despite how unforgivable you think you are to others or even yourself.
At some point, you have to stop running.
Dont be scared to take the leap of faith. No matter how big or small it is. God is right there, rooting for you.
All you have to do is trust Him.
If you like this article, check out: Letting Go of the Ropes
Erin is a sophomore at Saint Louis University. She cant wait for spring to hit up here, and has successfully survived her first real winter. You can visit her on facebook or email her at ealmand(at)slu(dot)edu.