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Ron Writes

The lowest view of God is that He’s here to make us happy and give us things. No wonder there are so many atheists. They have turned God into some kind of cosmic Santa Claus. This low view is of a God who is to serve us. You can hear it in the indignation “Where was God when I needed Him?! ” Pain and death are no longer seen as the result of the corrupt world we live in, but the result of a God who doesn’t care. Ironically, they have rejected a god I would have rejected too. 

The God of the Bible is not like the god of this world. Isaiah especially wants to make this clear. Over and over he says “here is your God,” or “this is our God” or “I am your God”. He is the almighty Lord God (Adonai Yahweh). He is the Creator, Redeemer who is Everlasting. He is Holy. He is the God of judgment who is Just and Righteous. He is “the high and exalted One” (Isa. 57:15). He says, “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me” (Isa. 46:9). 

Because of who God is we need not fear or be anxious. He will help and strengthen us. He will uphold us (Isa. 41:10). This is much different from He’ll give you everything you want and bail you out of all your troubles. He doesn’t promise to rescue us from all our trials, but to strengthen us to get us through our trials. He allows our faith to be tested and allows us to go through various trials to make us strong, pure and full of endurance. 

To grow physically you stress your lungs and heart. You cause your muscles to work. This produces strength and endurance. If you want your mind to grow, you challenge it. You discipline yourself to study, memorize, meditate and be tested. God allows us to endure various trials for the same reason. The challenges of life are to make us stronger and teach us that we can trust in God.