Disappointment?

We love having guest bloggers here on the actionchurch blog! Here are some thoughts from Kirsten on disappointment.

shack_edited

Recently I just finished reading “The Shack,” written by Paul Young (if you haven’t read it yet, I do suggest taking a look at it). As a quick summary for those who have not read the book, the main character, Mack is dealing with a “Great Sadness” that is greatly affecting his relationship with God. Mack is drawn to “the shack” where he encounters the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in face-to- face interaction. Throughout the rest of the book, Mack expresses his anger and questions why God has caused him to experience this “Great Sadness” that overshadows his life.

Many questions that Mack poses toward the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are similar to questions inside of me; questions that other’s answers have never completely satisfied me inside. In one scene of the book, Mack questions God as to why he is disappointed in humans when we fail time and time again. God responds saying that he is never disappointed in human failures; he hurts to see us fail and live in pain, but he is never disappointed. In fact, it is almost the complete opposite. Because God knows all, He knows every single time that we will fail before returning to him. So if He knows that we will fail 47 times before turning towards him, he is not disappointed, for he knows that there is only 46 more times until we decide return. We are just one mistake closer to being in communication with God again.

I’m not saying that this is necessarily correct (it is always good to question what we read and hear); I am just saying that this has caused me to see God in a new light. I have always felt that every time I screw up, God has been extremely disappointed in me, and it is almost as if the guilt weighs on my shoulders. But what if God is never disappointed in us? What if he almost celebrates because we are just that much closer to him? What would that mean in our lives to live without such a guilt, such a shame? For me I feel free; I feel a burden lifted. Without this guilt and shame, I feel a joy and a love that only God can give, and it arouses a desire in me to live life to its fullest. May we take this joy and love and spread it among our community, spread God’s unfailing love to all that we meet.

Though the mountains may be shaken and the hills be removed, my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

One thought on “Disappointment?

  1. Thanks! Someone gave me a copy of that book several months ago and I haven’t picked it up yet. I have felt the same way you described several times so maybe I was supposed to read that book. I think I will now.

    I am always blown away when I realize God doesn’t look at things the same way we do. I’m glad for that!

    Bob