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At the dentist today I got my gums poked by that sharp metal thing they use - you know.
And it really got me thinking.
I don't know why I thought this, but it just popped into my head, Hmm, why did God have that happen? Now I was hardly upset about it, of course, but I did suddenly wonder why it happened. Usually things have a purpose, you know - in fact, I believe everything does. God is sovereign, and everything happens according to his will, or plan.
So why on earth was it in God's plan that she poke my gums? Again, not because I wished it didn't happen, because I honestly didn't care, but just because it's curious to think about.
My mom said God just "lets" things happen like that - as if they're too small concerns for him to worry about. I guess that's kind of true... but yet, God is God, not a human. Maybe he does care about said small concerns. He is in perfect control of of everything. Including my trip to the dentist. He could've made it go perfectly painless, but he didn't.
Why not? I really, really wonder. In fact - why even make gums with nerves? What difference could it make?
Honestly - I can't imagine any possible influence on the course of events from my gums being poked. Why? The way God works puzzles me very much.
If anyone has an answer I'd love to hear it. Then again... I might just have answered my own question. It did influence the course of events --
I wrote a blog post about it!
I had never enjoyed reading the Old Testament until this past year. It amazed me how, specifically in Leviticus and Numbers, God cares about every aspect of our lives. He didn't leave anything unsaid; there was nothing left for wondering.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why your gums had to be poked, but I do believe that God has a reason, even if it's just to get us talking about this subject. =)
I've actually thought about this a lot...and I still have no idea.
ReplyDeleteHe could have made it a pain free experience, but He didn't. But sometimes he chooses to. It honestly all seems a little arbitrary to me.
Emily - Yeah, that probably is the reason after all. ;)
ReplyDeleteHannah - Arbitrary? Hmm. I suppose it seems that way, but it all must have a grand purpose.
Can I comment even though I don't have "Hannah" in my name? :)
ReplyDeleteRead Matthew 10:26-31, but here are verses 29-31:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
And 1st Corinthians 10:31 (ha, another chapter 10, verse 31):
"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
There are many other verses of a similar message, but even though these verses are in two different contexts of teaching, they (as well as the Torah, which Emily brought up) still tell us something: God is deeply concerned for the little things in life. Eating and drinking, rising up, and lying down? What more basic functions of life could possibly exist?
I could go really far on this subject, but I'll simplify it this way: when we can go through a day and give God the glory even for the things that we normally do without a thought, isn't that a life a fulfillment?
I keep writing these giant paragraphs trying to develop this thing more, but I keep deleting them because this is supposed to just be a comment. :p
Anyway, I can pretty safely say that I believe that God allowed your gums to be uncomfortably poked so that you could give Him the glory for it by writing this post and getting us all thinking about His hand in our life. Thank you. :)
And God is far above arbitration. God never, ever does anything just because He can. Yes, He works everything thing to His ultimate glory, but let's not forget that He moves to bring us to repentance and a closer relationship with Him. He is ALWAYS working to bring us to Himself. Discipline happens, yes, but why? to drive us away? No. He does either to bring us to faith and repentance, or to purify us and make us more like His Son.
ReplyDeleteNothing happens without a purpose, good, bad, or otherwise. Nothing.
Josh - yes, I never doubted God cared about those things. I suppose I worded that confusingly... I totally agree with you: God had a purpose for my gums, I was just stumped as to what it could be.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Don't worry about making it long... and don't worry about not being a Hannah. ;)
You know how in books, the author often foreshadows things or makes allusions that are mainly a wink to the reader alone, and none of the characters in the story catch it? I think you make have just caught one. In the story of your life, God was making an in-joke for the Angels of Deep Heaven. Authors always put seemingly irrelevant things in their books and tie it all together in the end. When you watch the replay of your life, you'll watch your gums being poked and say "OH! LOL, I get it now!!!"
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love this comment!! Wow, I actually do think I'll say LOL in Heaven... looking back on how silly I was on earth sometimes... :)
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