The Christian paradox

In my other blog, I wrote about how on the loss of Kirstin, we stood in raw grief before the God who had given her life and then claimed her back and it occurred to me that to an unbeliever, that must really come across as odd. It is a paradox, no getting away from it, but it is not a contradiction. Many writers have spoken about pride been at the source of all sin and our response, as human as it is, in the face of death is no different. We ask why? Assuming for a minute that there was an answer we could fully understand, what does that do? Does it comfort us? Does it undo the tragedy? Does it restore anything at all? No. But it gives us a sense of control. Most human events of significance prompt the questions: How did this happen? and then: Why did this happen? And often a host of people saying: We will get to the bottom of this! We will ensure it will not happen again! And this is a good thing - safety measures are put into place and prevent unnecessary future tragedies. But at its most basic, it is an attempt to control the future. So when death comes and we, as humans are faced with an event we cannot control or prevent, we flounder around and get angry. Perhaps we even think: 'if I was God, I would've done this or that.' We almost cannot stand knowing our own impotency. And yet it is not only useful, it is a necessary element of our Christian humility that we know this part of ourselves - our utter dependency. Yes we are Spirit-filled, etc. but all of this power comes from God within, not from within our own selves. And so surrender becomes a prayer of letting God be God. The prophet Habakkuk in that well known canticle really put it starkly and challenges us by his example:

For even though the fig does not blossom,
nor fruit grow on the vine,
even though the olive crop fail,
and fields produce no harvest,
even though flocks vanish from the folds
and stalls stand empty of cattle,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord
and exult in God my Saviour.
The Lord my God is my strength.
(Habakkuk 3)