By: Gabriela Yareliz
Why is it that we are angry at God or attribute bad things to God, yet we fail to assume responsibility for our own choices? People (me included!) want others to assume responsibility for their choices. Only fair, right? When they don’t, and that hurts us, we often then think it’s God’s fault, ironically then absolving us of any responsibility from the situation. (Today, we are talking about situations and circumstances where we did make a choice, even if we ended up with a result we didn’t anticipate or desire). Granted, you can’t control other people’s actions (and neither can God), but oftentimes, it’s our own choices that place us in the path of certain disasters.
People choose lifestyles, locations, they have sex (or don’t), they have children (or don’t), they date (or don’t), they get married (or don’t), they get divorced (or don’t)– and then, they are angry at God, as if they didn’t choose that action, place, behavior, life or person. (Or they ignore the choices of other humans they chose to be with).
Suddenly, the poor and bad consequences from our own actions become our evidence against God and His character, in our minds– but it’s delusional. We all make choices. And people are so fast to hold others responsible for theirs, so why can’t we own up to our choices?
“Suddenly, the poor and bad consequences from our own actions become our evidence against God and His character, in our minds– but it’s delusional.”
Erwin McManus recently wisely said something along the lines of: we blame something external (the devil or God) and sometimes fail to see the darkness within us.
Sometimes, we have to forgive God for that which He did not do and heal that relationship, and forgive ourselves for our humanity. Life isn’t about perfection. It’s also not a life where people are God’s marionettes. Life is filled with decisions and risks. We take risks, and assume the risk of our choices, no matter what the result.
May we always continue to strive to see God for who He really is: Real, good, never outdated, always present, always fair, true, faithful, Love.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 