{"id":3583,"date":"2013-09-06T06:46:19","date_gmt":"2013-09-06T12:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithwalkers\/?p=3583"},"modified":"2013-09-06T06:50:28","modified_gmt":"2013-09-06T12:50:28","slug":"shana-schutte-when-the-past-doesnt-make-sense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithwalkers\/2013\/09\/shana-schutte-when-the-past-doesnt-make-sense\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Past Doesn’t Make Sense"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Privileged to feature this guest post from Shana Schutte<\/strong>. An author and speaker, Shana is the founder of Beyond Imagination<\/a>, an organization dedicated to helping people find answers for everyday problems through Biblical truths. Her nationwide radio program<\/a> airs daily on over 400 Christian stations. Parts of this post were excerpted from her book Betrayed by God?: Making Sense of Your Expectations<\/a>\"\". Learn more at Blueprint for Life<\/a> and subscribe to follow their excellent Kingdom work.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

No one is immune to unanswered questions created by life\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s at these times that the path from where we were to where we now stand is often shrouded in confusion; we can\u2019t make sense of what God has done.\u00a0Why haven\u2019t my dreams been fulfilled? Lord, why did you lead me here? God, why did I have to go through that trial? Jesus, why did that relationship end? Why didn\u2019t my parents love me? Why did I lose my job?<\/em><\/p>\n

Even for those of us who have a strong faith, there are times when our deepest questions about the past will remain unanswered by the One who knows everything.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Sacrifice the Present for What You Can\u2019t Change<\/h3>\n

In the classic book,\u00a0Man\u2019s Search for Meaning<\/a>\"\"\u00a0Viktor E. Frankl, an Auschwitz survivor and psychologist, addresses the question as to why some prisoners survived the brutalities of concentration camp life, while others did not. Certainly some were so ill that they couldn\u2019t go on, but the distinguishing characteristic, says Frankl, was that those who looked to the future in hope, lived. These courageous souls did not look backward and demand answers. Instead, they had \u201crich intellectual lives.\u201d They used their imaginations to plan the future. They thought about the joy that would be theirs seeing their loved ones, fulfilling a great purpose, or doing something redemptive for mankind.<\/p>\n

Remember this: if you refuse to relinquish what you\u2019ll never understand and the things you cannot change, you\u2019ll miss out on the joy of today and hope for the future. Living life by looking in the rearview mirror brings emotional pain. Regretting the past and fearing the future brings only torment.\u00a0 A life you can\u2019t relive isn\u2019t worth sacrificing for what you can\u2019t change.<\/p>\n

God Wants to Use Your Unanswered Questions to Build Faith<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re like I have been, you\u2019re probably convinced that the only way you\u2019ll ever experience peace about the past is for God to answer all your whys, hows, and what-fors. Remember, though, that God has your best interest at heart. That doesn\u2019t mean He\u2019s going to answer every one of your questions; He may not\u2014and for good reason.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 11:3 says, \u201cBy faith we understand that the universe was formed at God\u2019s command.\u201d In her Bible study\u00a0Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit<\/a>\"\"\u00a0Beth Moore writes:<\/p>\n

What this passage is saying is that there will never be enough conclusive evidence to all humankind that He [God] is the Creator. He has ordained that some questions remain unanswered to force the issue of faith.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the same way that God will not answer all our questions about His role as Creator so He can force the issue of faith, neither will He answer all our inquiries about the past or personal pain.<\/p>\n

If God answered all of our questions, how would our faith be strengthened? There are never enough answers to satisfy a fear-filled heart.<\/p>\n

Choosing to trust God in spite of our questions changes us from insecure to secure, from fearful to confident, from ungrateful to grateful. It\u2019s faith that transforms us into peaceful, confident children of God who are secure in the mighty love of God, even when He\u2019s silent.<\/p>\n

Will you trust Him today with what you don\u2019t understand?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Explore more of Shana\u2019s writing at Blueprint for Life<\/a> and pick up copy of her book\u00a0Betrayed by God?: Making Sense of Your Expectations<\/a>\"\"\u00a0today.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Privileged to feature this guest post from Shana Schutte. An author and speaker, Shana is the founder of Beyond Imagination, an organization dedicated to helping people find answers for everyday problems through Biblical truths. Her nationwide radio program airs daily on over 400 Christian stations. Parts of this post were excerpted from her book Betrayed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1084,"featured_media":3584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,24],"tags":[740,739,238,673,267,348,737,738,741,736,540],"class_list":["post-3583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-living","category-guest-posts","tag-blueprint-for-life","tag-christ","tag-christ-followers","tag-discipleship","tag-faith","tag-living-by-faith","tag-making-sense","tag-past","tag-shana-schutte","tag-trusting-god","tag-walking-by-faith"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen the Past Doesn't Make Sense<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Privileged to feature this guest post from Shana Schutte. 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