“Why do people offer shortsighted counsel?”

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, What if…God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected (p. 44). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That’s a good question, isn't it? Why?

Charles says, “Because they’re looking at life horizontally. They mean well. They want you to feel relief. They want you to be happy. That’s what prompts them to say what they say. But sometimes their words are erroneous and can add to your confusion and struggle.”

He goes on, “God’s Word helps you filter out things you have no business taking in. Long before you face the storm, I urge you to soak your mind and your heart in the Scriptures. Read those great truths that give you a theological foundation. Ask the Lord to provide you with a spirit of discernment so you can easily determine whether the advice you’re hearing is from the Lord or not. Then when you experience the gale-force winds of doubt and grief, your anchor will hold, firmly fixed on the bedrock of God’s unchanging faithfulness and rooted in the knowledge of His sovereign control.

“So, when you face a tragedy in your own life, let the tears flow. Grieve. You can’t get over grief until you’ve fully expressed it. You grieve with the full perspective that God is in control, meaning you grieve but not ‘like people who have no hope’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13). This can be true even in periods of devastating loss. Ultimately, you realize He has ordained this loss to accomplish His divine purpose for you and within you.”

And getting into God’s Word even when we are in this crisis is a good place to go, isn’t it?

Yes, yes!

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