I like all the mix of characters, and how different they are:
Winnie the Pooh: an innocent, naive but trusting (and "silly") bear;
Piglet: the anxious, scared and insecure pig;
Rabbit: the controlling, opinionated and precise gardener bunny;
Owl, the Wise expert in everything (at least in his own mind)
Eeyore: the depressing, negative, pessimistic, lowly donkey.
My favorite character is Tigger, with his bouncy, positive, bubbly personality. He almost never gets 'down'.
I sure wish I was more like him!
Unfortunately, I am sometimes more like Eeyore...and I think most of our culture is too.
Here's a radical idea for you to chew on: Christians should not be like Eeyore!
Think about it for a minute:
We are blessed people, by the grace of God!
We are adopted by faith into the Family of God, and have the assurance of security within that family.
We are heirs to all the promises of God, and have promises by God Himself that we are safe, secure, and loved.
The God of the universe has moved heaven and earth to reach out to US, and He has blessed us with every good and perfect gift.
In fact, the Word says just that "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." (James 1:17-18)
Make no mistake about it: God loves us and actually loves us and treasures us!
A God like that, who loves us like that, is not going to abandon us. He is not going to let us experience problems and difficulties that we don't need. He doesn't simply turn a blind eye or deaf ear to our needs and our trials...He wants what's good for us, and He knows how to bring it about.
What does that mean for us?
It means we can trust Him.
It means that, if we're going through tough times, He knows it. He does not let us suffer needlessly.
It may be for our growth, it may be to prepare us for blessing, it may be to help us to learn to really 'worship' Him at a deeper level, it may be so that we can have an influence over someone's else's eternal future...or any one of a thousand other reasons. But God has us there, and He is there in the midst of it with us!
Remember, He is working from an eternal perspective, and He is is working for our good!
If you are struggling with circumstances and you wonder why God has you in them, and why He's not intervening, don't despair! Don't give up! Don't assume that He is not the loving, caring, wise and powerful God that you thought He was!
Instead, reaffirm your faith and trust. Pray your heart out. Let Him know your struggles and your needs...but don't turn your back on Him! He is still there and is still the great God who loves you.
Don't become an 'Eeyore', looking at your circumstances negatively. Rather, by faith, be more like Tigger--knowing He is going to care for you and help you to grow--'Bounce' on it.
He is working--in your circumstances, on your behalf. He loves you and NOTHING can separate you from that love.
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love." (Romans 8:35-38)
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