Day Seven
Why do bad things happen?
We live in such a broken world. Things and people of this life can be unfair and damaging. From a pandemic of illness, to hate, abuse, and poverty, we see the hurt and its effect on people. It is not beyond us to ask Yah why. It is a natural response when we see grief or experience torment. The mind, body, and soul have to release the pain in order to heal.
In fact, voicing our despair is one of the healthiest things we can do. As said earlier in this series of blogs, the difference is what we do with our grief, anger, and sadness. Make no mistake, Yah is an Elohiym of Justice as much as He is of Comfort!
We must, however, seek Yah’s help to place our emotions under His control, so we can better manage our behaviours. But what do we do about the ongoing emotions that simply will not shut off?
I have never seen anyone on this earth, nor in the Sacred Scriptures, who had the superior ability to shut-off everything. People may deny or bury their pain; however suppressed grief may resurface later in a negative way.
Yah designed us with a certain amount of capacity and only so much void. No one can withhold all his emotions from bad things, only to try to find peace and healing for himself. If this were true, neither you nor I, much less the world, would need Yahusha. Locking down one’s own responses will only make life worse: this is no way to live.
Branon Dempsey, the author of the original reading plan, has lived a life of turmoil and abuse as a child. There were things done to him that he wishes had never happened. They were beyond his control. What was one thing that he learned? It was not his fault.
When we go through pain, we often blame ourselves. This self-medicating reaction obscures the real problem. It displaces our hurt as a means to justify or bear the burden of responsibility on ourselves.
What complicates life even further is when negative behaviours become our “new response” to any pain or problem. Without proper intervention or resolution, this new response becomes subconsciously automatic. This way of coping or surviving we learned during childhood, can carry over into adulthood: unless you become keenly aware of your need to deal with the problems openly and professionally.
On a lighter note, the way we are as humans has everything to do with our spirituality. Yah designed us with the ability to learn from our pain and failures. We take the hurts and pragmatic things of life and ask Yah for wisdom, understanding, and healing. In essence, we bring to Yah our brokenness, and He transforms us into a new way of thinking, believing, and living, all through the interweaving love and grace of Mashiach.
Why do I include this in a devotional writing? Because sometimes our human emotions keep us from our devotion to Yah. Our emotions can preclude us from conversing with Yah: we may then wander through life wondering if Yah even hears us or why we cannot hear from Him.
The truth is Yah has always heard you and He hears you now. Yahusha said in Yahuchanon’s rendering of the Besorah, in 8:47, “He that is of Elohiym hears Elohiym's words ....”
It is said in Tehillah 65:2 says: “O you that hear prayer, unto you shall all flesh come.” את) CEPHER). Here it is, in black and white - Yah’s proof that He hears us and knows our every thought, even before it is on our tongue (See also Divrei Hayamiym Ri’shon 28:9 and Tehillah 139:4).
The Qadosh Ruach takes our physical and mental needs to the Father. In return, He restores our soul and renews our emotional health - which benefits our spiritual health. As a result, the health of our fellowship and our sense of devotion is more attuned to Yah. All of these things work together. Through asking and experiencing Yah’s help, we develop a better understanding of what Pa’al writes to the Philippiym:
“And the peace of Elohiym, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Mashiach Yahusha.” (4:7 את CEPHER)
David’s comfort is fixed on Adonai to the point that his dependency is found nowhere else. David brings his human emotion to the Spiritual Yah of all comfort:
“Let, I pray you, your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to your word unto your servant.” - Tehillah 119:76 (אתCEPHER).
Notice how his plea in this verse is not: “O Yah, fix such and such and then I will do this for You." David is not seeking temporary earthly repair. He is not even bargaining with Yah. David humbly approaches the One who cares with great compassion and gives liberally from His unconditional love and divine kindness to the human heart.
With this kind of care from our Father, what other sources of comfort could eternally fill every human void?
David knows there is no other source of comfort. He joyously responds to Yah saying: “Unless your Torah had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction.” – Tehillah 119:92 (אתCEPHER).
We would have died in our own pain had it not been for our Lord and Saviour Yahusha HaMashiach. Praise be to Yah for His indescribable gift to all mankind. May we live our lives humbly and worthily to our Father, who holds all things together for the sake of His glory.
We can thank Yah for providing prayer as a way of direct communication. When your heart is filled with anxiety, He restores the mind and soul. His peace is unavoidable. In response to His generous invitation, take your thoughts captive, and bring them to Yahusha. Cast all your cares upon Him and lay all your burdens at His feet. He is able. Even when your strength fails, He is your help. Yah will lift you up.
Prayer:
O, my Father, only You can do any and all things; You hold my life in Your hands. Thank You for Your tenderness and abiding love. You are here in every moment. I never have to worry if You are near. Although at times I may feel isolated, I am never alone. Your Ruach HaQodesh is within me. You made a promise to be my help and my guide; You have fulfilled Your promises with more to come. May I rest unafraid like a trusting child in Your arms. Soothe every fear and wipe away every stain.
In Yahusha’s Name, Amein.
Scripture quotes:
“O you that hear prayer, unto you shall all flesh come.”
- Tehillah 65:2 את CEPHER.
“You answer our prayers . All of us must come to you,”
- Psalms 65:2 EASY.
1 Chronicles 28:9
“And you, Shalomah my son, know the Elohai of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for Yahuah searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.”
- Divrei Hayamiym Ri’shon 28:9 את CEPHER.
“‘And you, Solomon my son, know your father's God. Be his faithful servant in every way with your whole mind. The Lord knows what you are thinking. And he understands all your thoughts. If you look for him, you will find him. But if you leave him, he will turn away from you for all time.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 EASY.
“You have commanded us to guard your precepts diligently.”
- Tehillah 119:4 את CEPHER.
“You, Lord , have told us to obey your teaching carefully.”
- Psalms 119:4 EASY.
“And the peace of Elohiym, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Mashiach Yahusha.”
- Tehillah 4:7 את CEPHER.
“If you do that, God will give you peace in your minds. That peace is so great that nobody can completely understand it. You will not worry or be afraid, because you belong to Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 4:7 EASY.
“Let, I pray you, your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to your word unto your servant.”
- Tehillah 119:76 את CEPHER.
“Now, please use your special love to make me feel better. That is what you promised to do for me, your servant.”
- Psalms 119:76 EASY.
“Unless your Torah had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction.”
- Tehillah 119:92 את CEPHER.
“If your Law had not made me happy, I would have been sad until I died.”
- Psalms 119:92 EASY.
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