• Start Here
    • Privacy Policy
  • The Podcast
  • Spiritual Disciplines
    • Bible Study
      • Building a Bible Reading Habit: A 31 Day Gospel Reading Plan
    • Confession
    • Fasting
    • Prayer
    • Service
  • Liturgical Living
    • Advent
    • Christmas
    • Lent
      • 40 Days to the Cross: A Lenten Workbook
      • The Bible in Lent
    • Easter
    • Pentecost
    • Ordinary Time
  • Catholicism
  • Christian Living
    • Church Life
    • Hospitality
  • Latest Blog Posts

The Thin Place

I Don’t Want to Play God (Because He Always Absorbs the Pain)

Playing God is never quite what we imagine it to be. When I envision what I would do with almighty power, I imagine crushing my enemies, answering all of my own prayers, and blessing everyone I love. With a flick of my finger, wars would end, children would be adopted, and sickness would be healed. My frustrations with God often are directly connected to what I would do if I were God.

Usually, that has something to do with my own comfort and general selfishness because I am not holy, and my ways are not His. I would never choose the ways of God because I would not want to inflict myself with the pain that God absorbs.

We live out our day wondering why God allows pain in our lives and forget that He Himself has carried the burden of our pain up the long road to Calvary.

I have spent a lot of my life trying to avoid pain. I take ibuprofen when my head hurts, I quit exercising earlier than I should to avoid sore muscles and the ache of lungs stretched to capacity, and when someone hurts my feelings, I avoid eye contact and screen their calls. Because forgiveness is hard, messy work. It cuts to our core.

In his book, The Reason for God, Tim Keller reminds us that whether we seek revenge or extend forgiveness, someone always pays the price, someone always feels the pain. When we seek revenge against those who hurt us, we to try and force them to pay for the pain their wrong made us feel. But forgiveness, forgiveness means we absorb the pain inflicted upon us and leave the other person free to walk.

God is always absorbing the pain. Again and again, I hurt God. I doubt His goodness when He’s only ever been faithful. I run after other idols, family, works, material things, my reputation, instead of seeking the heart of the only One who satisfies. I ignore His commandments, only meant for my welfare, and think I know better. Instead of loving the image of God in the people He has created, I scorn and hurt those around me as if they are not worthy of my best.

My actions consistently hurt and break God’s heart but instead of seeking revenge, He carried my sin on His back and allowed Himself to be beaten and crucified to absorb my wrongs and restore our relationship.

In my friendships, in my marriage, I am relinquishing my desire to play God because in relationships, God is always the one getting hurt. But it doesn’t stop there, when God is hurt, He actually extends love. Over and over. That means that I no longer bear the pain of the wrongs I have done. Revenge has not been sought. I have dealt in pain and been repaid with excessive love.

This lavish love means that I am filled up when I am hurt. As I absorb pain, forgiving others, I am refilled with the goodness God has given me. He has been good.

So I am relinquishing the desire to play God and instead am settling for modeling after God. Because the good news is that God will not call us to something that He will not equip us for. In fact, when it is hard, that is when He promises to equip us with His strength. His strength is magnified in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12).

We cannot bear on our own what He has called us to do but again and again He reminds us that He is walking beside us, pursuing us with His goodness and mercy, loving us no matter the cost it brings on Himself.

I don’t want to play God because I know that I cannot carry that cross. Thankfully, God Himself already carried that burden and freed me from the curse of sin. Now, I can live with the love He has shown and the endless support of His grace.

SaveSave

Join 6,878 Believers
Join 6,878 believers who receive weekly updates and spiritual encouragement and receive free access to the resource library and our exclusive Facebook group.
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.
Pin270
Share10
Tweet
Share
280 Shares
Share
Join the Convo

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

The Comments

  • Sarah
    August 31, 2017

    Interesting thoughts

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Sarah
      August 31, 2017

      Thanks, Sarah!

      Reply
  • Kylie Manning
    August 31, 2017

    This was an interesting read, and has given me a lot to think about what I do daily.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Kylie Manning
      September 1, 2017

      I’m glad you found it thought provoking, Kylie.

      Reply
  • Beth
    August 31, 2017

    That is an interesting perspective on forgiveness. It’s certainly something I struggle with, and I’ve never really thought of it as absorbing the blow before. Just because you’ve forgiven doesn’t meant it won’t still hurt.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Beth
      September 1, 2017

      Yes, it is hard but someone always pays the price. Grateful that God was willing to absorb the blow for my sin.

      Reply
  • Kate
    August 31, 2017

    I’m not at all religious, but I was drawn to this line: “I have spent a lot of my life trying to avoid pain. “. I was reading recently about a new approach to mental health that says that we should not avoid distress and pain, but treat them as opportunities for connection with other people. I wonder if this could be extended to connection to God in your case?

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Kate
      September 1, 2017

      That is really interesting, Kate. I definitely think that pain is something that God uses and that’s it’s an opportunity for growth.

      Reply
  • ada
    September 1, 2017

    None of us is perfect and God knows it 🙂 But if you are a good person he knows it for sure! Great post !

    Reply
    • Bailey
      ada
      September 1, 2017

      Yes but, unfortunately, I don’t think my goodness quite makes up for the ickiness in my life. Grateful for His forgiveness.

      Reply
  • Elizabeth
    September 8, 2017

    This is so encouraging to me…thank you for writing it. Forgiveness really is life-changing.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Elizabeth
      September 10, 2017

      It is such a challenge but so life-giving.

      Reply
  • Ann
    September 20, 2017

    God is there for us even how much we neglect or take Him for granted. Just grateful for the unconditional love

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Ann
      September 21, 2017

      Isn’t it amazing?

      Reply
related posts

You May Also Like

Choosing Silence: Being Still in an Over-Stimulating World

July 30, 2017

While We Wait, He is Still Good

February 10, 2017

13 Ways To Be A Proverbs 31 Woman Today

August 5, 2018
Hello, I’m Bailey
about me

Hello, I’m Bailey

The Thin Place was born out of a season of struggle. A season where I felt stretched thin and desperately longed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. The goodness of God showed up in unexpected ways. During that season, the spiritual disciplines laid out in Scripture, the traditions of the Church, and the reminders of His faithfulness seen in liturgial living and the feasts and seasons of the Church calendar all opened my eyes to the hope we have in Christ.

Popular Posts

6 Habits To Start Your Morning Routine Like The Proverbs 31 Woman6 Habits To Start Your Morning Routine Like The Proverbs 31 Woman87K Total Shares
Pray Like Hannah and Give It to GodPray Like Hannah and Give It to God23K Total Shares
5 Important Ways to Pray for Your Husband5 Important Ways to Pray for Your Husband14K Total Shares
7 Spiritual Goals You Need To Start Setting Today7 Spiritual Goals You Need To Start Setting Today13K Total Shares

Products

  • Building a Bible Reading Habit: A 31 Day Gospel Reading Plan $15.00

Follow on Instagram

…
Instagram did not return a 200.

Copyright Bailey Suzio 2022 Site Powered by Pix & Hue.