photo: Martha G. Brady
Five Minute Friday...including the link to the rules. The word prompt: because.
FellowshipFriday#38...Join me here.
All my life has been full of questions.
“How come?”
“Why?”
“I don’t understand.”
One of the most frustrating answers for me was the answer, “Just because.”
“I can’t really answer your question.
That’s just the way it is.”
I was often like a bulldog with my questions.
It wore my mother out to hear them. They seemed never-ending.
It was not a source of pleasure for her to see my mind that was full of curiosity…
and a quest for knowledge.
For her it was threatening to not know the answers.
Fortunately, my husband enjoyed questions
and didn’t find his not knowing the answers to be a threat,
But rather an opportunity to learn something new.
There was no deadline on getting answers.
It didn’t have to be this minute.
As I walk through life, I’m still full of questions.
But I have learned to accept that there are some things I need to realize
Some answers won’t fully be known this side of eternity. STOP
I think it is part of what is called walking by faith, not by sight.
Learning to trust that whatever circumstance GOD brings into my life is for my good
No matter how it feels.
I’m learning that I can trust GOD’s good providence…even if it doesn’t feel good now.
Realizing that the end of the story isn’t written yet.
I’m only in the middle of the story that GOD is writing.
I don’t always know the reasons He does things.
Sometimes, for now, I have to settle for “just because”
until the story is done
or until 5 or 10 more years have passed.
For now, I will have to settle for “just because” He loves me.
“Just because” He has my best interest at heart.
“Just because” He is doing something I know nothing about.
“Just because” He is growing me and maturing me
to be more like Him.
What is the “just because” you are having trouble accepting now from GOD?
Immediately as I started reading your post I had to smile. I have a daughter who asks me questions constantly…. and like your mom, I have to admit, it does exasperate me. Not because I don’t know the answers or am afraid of looking for them ( I ask tons of question myself) but just because there are times it is like a battering ram beating down the door of my well-built fortress for my day. The plans and time that I have structured ( or not so structured) into the day and her questions always make us take a detour. Sometimes they are good and other times when I can’t take the detour she doesn’t yet understand why just because has to be the answer. 🙂 And then God reminds me that she is an image of myself as I knock on His door and keep on asking, and like you I am learning that ‘just because’ is enough…. BECAUSE I can trust Him.
Blessings to you, Martha!
Dawn
thanks dawn for stopping by. great comment:) i like the battering ram visual. i hadn’t thought of that one.
My “Just Because” at the moment is Just Because Jesus suffered and died so I can LIVE. Remembering His passion helps me know I only need to reach out for His hand and He will help me move through my own suffering. The greatest gift in this has been a strengthened desire to die to myself and live more fully for Him each day. Thank you for writing this! I found your post through http://christianmommyblogger.com/fellowship_fridays_bulldog/.
thanks for stopping by de:) you must have way more energy than i do! i find that there are too many days when i honestly don’t want to die to myself and my desire for comfort or whatever is staring me in the face. i wish after all these years, that i could say i wake up each day wanting to die to myself. but too many days, or times during the day, i fail.
i give in to my desire to please me instead of Him. it is in those times i am encouraged to know that He continues to graciously love me and when i humble myself & repent, forgives again. But that is why He had to die in the first place isn’t it?
fortunately we have an infinite GOD b/c we are so finite. hallelujah!
Hi Martha,
Amen! It’s been interesting to experience how giving up something I desire in order to “suffer” with Christ, actually seems to result in me being happier and more content. So, in the long run, dying to self, might actually result in gaining or giving to myself. Just not in the same way I thought I wanted at the moment!
funny how it works out that way isn’t it de?
I understand the need to have questions answered. It’s lovely when we partner up with someone who is not threatened by our questioning and help us to seek out the truth and answers.
yes jenn. last w/e marked 46 yrs. obviously, not every question gets answers. but having someone who takes them seriously is a gift:)
Happy Anniversary!!!
thanks julie:) the time has flown! it was last sunday. we were in st. louis doing some babysitting. we still haven’t gotten around to going out for a special meal. we’ll do it soon:)
This is my first week of participating in Five Minute Friday. I know the one and only set rule is to respond to the person who posted before you. You sure asked ME a thought provoking question. I think that what I struggle with is that I know everything happens in His timing and He is patient. He who has begun a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. I just struggle that he sure has His hands full and that He keeps holding His hand out to me and I do not grasp it tight enough.
of course you don’t grasp tight enough teresa. you are human, he is GOD! He is infinite, you are finite. that is very comforting! In His final prayer with the disciples before the cross in john 17, he talks about how He will hold us in His hand and not one of us who belong to Him will be lost. if our ability to hang on to Him were what we had faith in for our christian life, we would be very depressed! the encouragement is that He is the one holding onto us and we are firm in His grip of grace! He not only has begun the good work in us, He is continuing it until the day of Jesus Christ. for me, that is an amazing hope and assurance:)
welcome teresa:)