In early childhood I wondered if God ever smiled, or was He all business; ready to strike down any person committing the least offense that He did not agree with. I thought for every bad thing I did that a black check-mark was placed next to my name in heaven.
This kind of thinking must have been associated with my earthly father. He was a rigid authoritarian and disciplinarian that believed in using the belt when disobedience was an issue. I believe that my perception of our Heavenly Father was skewed, because of the misconception that all wrongdoing deserved punishment.
This kind of thinking must have been associated with my earthly father. He was a rigid authoritarian and disciplinarian that believed in using the belt when disobedience was an issue. I believe that my perception of our Heavenly Father was skewed, because of the misconception that all wrongdoing deserved punishment.
As I grew older I discovered that God was compassionate and loving. His kindness and long suffering taught me that obedience was better than sacrifice. I learned, through experience, that the Bible was truth and superseded any false impression I had about God.
I found by reading the Bible and going to church that God was kindhearted and affectionate; so much so that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for our sins, because of love. He desired that every person have an abundant life through Jesus and not suffer the penalty for wrongdoing, which is sin.
Taking into account that God is Spirit and not human flesh of this world, I believe the results of God’s presence in a person’s life can bring forth a godly smile even in times of trouble. The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Though people, places, and things are frequently changing around us, seemingly to the negative end of the spectrum of good and evil, I believe a smile finds its way to a person’s face when they look to God as their source of joy.
Happiness prevails when faith in God’s promises are acted upon through one’s thinking. Is there any greater delight than this? I think not. Everyone desires happiness; looking in the right place brings it.
(Deuteronomy 31:8), “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
When I look into the face of small children, I see the purity of God’s
smile as they express themselves. When I
see a smile on the face of my 93 year old mother-in-law, the richness and
affluence of God’s smile shines through the wrinkles. Her relationship with Him is that of
trust. She has found the joy of living
through Jesus Christ and has retained her faith in God though heartache has
stepped over the threshold of her life many times. Even in the midst of sorrow and despair, she
smiles and exclaims, “God is good!”
When we pray the following scriptures, we too can maintain a smile through life when sadness knocks at our door.
(Psalm 51:9-12), “Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” vs.10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” vs.11 “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” vs.12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
It is becoming harder and harder to see God’s smile on the faces of people when tragedies continue to be front page news, like the horrific atrocity that took place in Newtown, Connecticut. 20 children and six adults were brutally murdered by a homicidal maniac that went into an elementary school bent on mass murder and mayhem. After killing 26 innocent souls, the gunman took his own life.
Where are the smiles on the faces of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of the deceased? Because of one, selfish individual, the joy of many people turned to grief and painful misery in a moment of unrestrained behavior. God did not smile that day.
The Holy Spirit grieves when mankind chooses to walk away from God’s love to pursue sin and be used of Satan to do barbaric things to children and other blameless people. At these times we need someone to come along side us and speak peace to our hurting soul. We have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who sympathizes with our infirmities. He speaks comfort in times of need through the Holy Spirit.
(Hebrews 4:15-16), “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” vs.16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
It is certainly easier to write words on paper than to put into action what the Bible tells us to do in (1 Peter 5:7). If we stand fast and hold onto God’s promises, the Spirit of God enables us to rise above any and all situations that come our way, but we must trust Him in every area of our life.
When our worse nightmare is upon us and the confidence we hold to is shaken and tries to take flight, it is at this point where the rubber meets the road-of-hopelessness that God speaks peace when we seek His face. The smile returns in time, because our Father in heaven heals broken hearts.
(1 Peter 5:7), “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
(Isaiah 50:2) “…Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?”
The answer to the above scripture is NO. God’s hand is not too short to deliver our heart from misery and unhappiness. Nothing is impossible for God. Like my mother-in-law; we need to trust Him and not lean upon our own understanding concerning things that come our way. He has everything in control. Nothing takes God by surprise.
As long as we are in the world we are subject to the sin of others. Whether it is home break-ins, assaults, or any other sinful act, God is still on the throne and His grace is sufficient for every situation that may come our way. He is the “I Am”.
Though sin entered into the world by one man’s disobedience, (Adam); it was because of another man’s death on the cross, (Jesus); that all humanity can come unto repentance.
(John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The devil is laughing at those in mourning and is delighted at the fear he has placed in the hearts of other moms and dads throughout the land, because of the killings in Newtown , Connecticut
The strength that is so desperately needed in difficult times is all encompassing around the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength: (Nehemiah 8:10 ).
The depth of despair that the folks in Connecticut
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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