By Nancy Virden (c)2024

God is all-powerful, all-good, all-just, present everywhere, and He knows each of us totally. Imagine this enormous Being who sees every one of the billions of sparrows and knows when one falls. Try to comprehend One who knows how many hairs are on your head. On windy days, in the shower, when your hairbrush gets fuzzy, and whether you are 2 or 92, hairs are part of God’s intimate knowledge about each person.

His perfect goodness, taught as holiness, tolerates evil for a time because he wants each of us to choose him. He created a paradise for us; sin ruined it. That’s the explanation for a broken creation and for messed-up souls. Trauma, abuse, natural disasters, wickedness, evil of the darkest sort – none of this was his original plan.

But didn’t he create the devil? Doesn’t he allow terrible things to happen? Doesn’t he send people to hell? The answer to those questions is yes, but. God did not and does not impose upon unwilling people. Since the very beginning humans have been graced with the incredible gift of choice.

While he knows your heart, mind, soul, and strength, he is keenly aware of your desire or lack of desire for him. The devil was once an angel, a worshiper of God. The devil grew prideful and contested God with an arrogance that has infiltrated all who deny God. Some of us have said, “I do not need God or religion or a crutch.” Okay then, he will leave us to mere human ideas and temporary hopes. When we humbly accept that no, we need our Creator, he is gracious to forgive and start us back on the best path.

I was a denier of God. Even when he answered my mother’s prayer and called my name I said, “No.” He was insistent and showed me some hard truth. Today I could say I was smart enough to know the gig was up, but I was not. It took more time for God to teach me humility and gratitude.

Knowing all this about God, are you curious to know more? The Bible describes how much his love embraces you. Putting him in a box is short-sighted at best. Has he “cured” my mental health challenges? No, and he did not fix my marriage or stop me from almost ending my life. What he did, and still does, is teach me better choices (sometimes with professional help). He stays close and opens my eyes to his unending love.

He will do the same for you.

COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Micah 7:18-19

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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