We’ve been talking about the importance of having a strong theological framework as a Christian and how it makes a difference in our lives. See part 1 here.
When we walk through deep suffering we might be tempted to add to our framework and scaffolding by how we feel at the time. This is dangerous to do because walking through suffering and forming conclusions about God based on our feelings can give us wrong conclusions. But going into suffering having already laid some layers of knowledge of who God is will help us trust him during that suffering even though we don’t understand what’s going on. Trusting what we learned in the light of the classroom or personal time with God is tested in the darkness of life. And then another beautiful layer of our theological framework is laid down.
The layer that is laid down during suffering is extra special because it fuses previous layers of head knowledge to life experience and produces beautiful heart knowledge. We experience things in the laying down of this layer that could never happen anywhere else. You studied in your Bible that God is a Comforter. You even believed that to be true. But through the living out of a dark season of life you experience God’s comfort in a new way. It might take hindsight to see it but no doubt it’s there. This is why written prayer is such a gift to our faith in going back to look.
For me some of my greatest theological framework building took place during one of the darkest seasons of my life. I was blessed to have training from solid Bible teaching churches and other sources. My love for God keeps me in his word but pastors have helped me discern what the word is saying. But only me and Jesus could do the work of suffering together. And while it was hard and painful what I learned about my God through it has been priceless.
Some of us have been building this theological framework for years. Others have just started. Wherever you are in the process just remember why you’re striving to build this framework. It’s so we can know and love God and point others to him. It’s not about sheer knowledge. Building a strong theological framework grounds us in a way that allows us to stand firm in a world that is constantly changing on a whim. The result is a rich security that comes with knowing who our God is and what he loves and desires from us in life.
My mom is AWESOME! (how cute is that?! My daughter just hijacked my computer and typed that. Tomorrow’s message could be totally different so you guys I’m not deleting those words in case I need to remind her that she once thought I was awesome. LOL.)
Leave a Reply