The heart of God

When i post things like what i posted yesterday, i am fully aware that there are people who read it & want to roll their eyes & say, "Gimme a break... make all things right? There is *nothing* right about what i'm going through in my life right now..."
One time i remember being questioned about my faith. The person was harsh, angry... & maybe a little drunk. The asker wondered about historical discrepancies, the accuracy of the bible & the intentions of so called, "leaders of the church..." - Stuff i bet almost any Christian has wondered about themselves... i know i sure have.
After a particularly long rant about the flood, he turned to me & said, "Well, what do you have to say about that??"
i told him that there were a whole lot of things that i didn't know - but i would love to talk about some of the things i do know.
"Like what?"
"Well, i believe that *there is a God*"
i wasn't sure what his response would be - but after some thought, he acknowledged that yes, he believed there was a God too.
"If you believe in God - then you're faced with the obvious question... Is God Good? i believe that He is."
i think that's the place where a lot of us - Christian or no - get stuck.
Is God's heart good?
There are so many things that we don't understand about our Father. Why is there hurt & pain? Why are my children suffering? Why has Haiti been devastated? Why did that evil person escape punishment? Why didn't He step in & save the day? Why do i still feel so sad & hurt by circumstances - when He could have prevented my pain?
i think it's at times like this that i've had to take a step back & return to what i *do* know. i know that God is good. His purposes might be completely beyond my understanding... but i've come to a place where i recognize that -
He loves me so much...
He is so completely trustworthy...
& He is so Holy - ...
That it would be silly for me to try to stack up evidence against Him.
Resting in that knowledge is a really hard thing for a lot of people to do, i've noticed. There's a lot of anger, bitterness & resentment... but it only serves to hold us back. People say, "God is big enough to handle your disappointment, anger... emotional tidal wave..."
& He is...
But why rage against the One who loves us the most?
Why not press into His Good Heart - & seek to follow & submit to His molding on our tender, teachable hearts?
It reminds me of a little one who's hurt. They're angry & trying to protect their tiny wound - & as their mama reaches out to comfort them, they smack her away & flail their tender tiny bodies to the ground in despair.
Yeh, mama's big enough to handle baby's anger - but her mother's heart wants to comfort - to hold & love.
i think God is like that...
i think He wants to teach us... hold us... love us... be Our Father...
if we'd just let Him...