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Serendipity


I was watching the movie Serendipity the other day (hence the picture of Love in the Time of Cholera), and it got me thinking about fate versus predestination.  It is so interesting that the concept of God having predestined our steps is so much less accepted than the concept of the universe bringing our romantic life into form.  It seems so amazing that there is one person out there for us and that cosmic forces are working to bring us face to face with that special someone in a perfect chance encounter we will remember the rest of our lives.  We get swept up in the notion of love and romance and not caught up in the control something holds over our life stories.

However, any time I ask someone on the fence about their faith how they feel about predestination they are completely anti having God in control of what they do.  I think what is misunderstood is the element of control.  We always hold control over our own lives, God is not forcing us into anything.  However, we have the choice to make that we want his guidance.  After that choice has been made, he has the best path laid out for us.  It is not the best path, in his opinion, it is simply the best.  Whether we want it or not it is there, but we can choose a different path that takes us through frustration and turmoil in life.  He even has the romantic elements worked out if you trust in him.

I have been wrestling with why things happen to some people and not to others, and I think this helps bring it into focus.  Because God created us he also understands us.  Because he understands us better than anyone else, he knows where we are weak and strong and what we need to be the best versions of ourselves, but we have to learn through our circumstances not fight them.  People who fight through them come out the best versions of themselves on the other side.  Trust in God is not easy.  I cannot explain everything, but I can say that God sees the bigger picture.

I was just explaining to someone yesterday how I often feel like a child with God.  I want something that is going to hurt me - I want to touch the stove when it is hot.  God, my father, tells me not to do it, but I do it anyway.  Then I blame him for not stopping me, even though I waited until he wasn't looking to disobey.  Anyone relate?

Learn to be content in your circumstances.  Listen when he tells you not to or to do something.

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