Do you blame God for the things that happen to you?

This week I have started a new devotional which is the chronological Bible. Everyday you read a passage in the order in which the events occur (in their opinion...I don't know if they are correct or not). After spending a couple of days on the creation through the flood to Babel, I landed in the book of Job. Scholars are not absolutely sure where to date it, some suggest it fits in before the patriarchs which is where this Bible puts it.

Anyway, as I was reading a verse stuck out to me. This verse follows Job losing everything - material possessions, servants and his children. In the NIV 1:22 reads "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Other versions are similar but break it into two sections "did not sin or charge/blame God." This got me thinking. How often we blame God for the things that happen to us. When we "blame" we take responsibility off ourselves and lay it all on the "blamee" (the one we are blaming). In Job's case I don't think the bad things that happened to him where a result of sin, or of something he had done. So, does this mean that he had a right to blame God? I can see how he would be tempted to blame God.

However, I do believe that God allows things to happen for reasons that are beyond our understanding. I don't believe He does them to make our lives difficult or for some malicious reason. God has a purpose in all things. And as we mature in Christ we need to hold onto that. Many of the trials and testings that we go through are extremely difficult, but coming through them inevitably makes us stronger. And this strength allows us to comfort others.

One of the most difficult times in my life was watching my mother die of cancer. She was an incredibly kind and loving woman, and she died at a young age. But through that horrible, devastating situation I came to know Jesus. I know that He was with me even when my back was to Him. I don't believe that God took my mother to punish me or bring me undo pain, nor do I think that it was the result of some sins that she had committed. But walking that difficult time in my life has made me stronger and has enabled me to comfort those in similar situations.

Before we blame God for the things that happen to us...let us hold on to the fact that our God is a loving, holy and just God. His purpose is not to make us miserable, but to draw us closer to Him. That is truly the best place we can be!

Have a GREAT day!
Pastor Anne