Thinking Thoughts and Learning Lessons...

To some extent I think that every person in the world has a somewhat skewed view of God.
Take for example how people react when their plans don't work out. Maybe the air-conditioner in your car broke or you are late for something because you can't find your keys.
I have heard people say, and I used to think, that when something "went wrong" that either God was disciplining you or He was trying to teach you something. I am not so sure anymore. I know that there are times that He uses circumstances to accomplish those two things in someones life, but everytime?
As a human father, when my daughter gets hurt or something doesn't go her way, I might not be the cause of her discomfort, but I can use those situations in her life as teachable moments. Depending on the circumstance I can check her attitude and teach her how she can be dissapointed without throwing a fit. Maybe I can show her the right way to do something. I can come along side of her and help her.
I wonder if many times that is what God is doing.
God created the universe with laws in place.
Take gravity...
Every autumn the leaves fall to the ground. Some would say God is personally knocking every leaf to the ground. Sure I know God could do that, but I believe that He put the law of gravity in place, and so He just let the law work the way it is supposed to.
You might disagree, but hear me out.
When the part on the car goes out, maybe God isn't "out to get you", maybe the law of
entropy that He put into effect at the beginning of time is just doing what it is supposed to.
Maybe, just maybe, He is just using these times (when everything seems to be going crazy) as teachable moments. Just like me with my daughter, God is seeing if our attitudes stay good and if we continue to trust in Him.
So often in America we ask God to fix the problem we are going through instead of asking Him to give us the strength to get through it. Whether or not God brought that specific trial upon us, He is there with us ready to help us thru it.
So now when we pray, we ask God to make our drive, our day, or whatever it is, smooth, but if He chooses not to, to please help our attitude and help us relax in Him during that time.
Take it for what it is worth...