Hey there! Welcome to the sixth part of our series on cortisol control. Today, we’re going to continue to dive into the topic of spiritually induced stress and how it relates to our doubts and trust in God. My goal is to tackle these doubts head-on, find reassurance, and build trust, which ultimately leads to a reduction in stress. In our previous blog post, we specifically examined the mystery argument, exploring the idea that some things are beyond our comprehension. Let’s remember throughout this journey, that while there will always be an element of mystery and necessary trust, God has given us hints to understand why we can confidently place our trust in Him.
Let’s jump right in by talking about the Free Will Argument. Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that God doesn’t always get what He wants? It’s similar to how parents desire peace and harmony among their children but conflicts arise due to each child’s individual will. Well, I imagine God faces a similar situation with us. He has given us the incredible gift of free will, and we exercise it naturally and constantly. Unfortunately, this means that evil can occur when individuals choose to commit harmful acts.
Throughout the Bible, we can find countless examples of people exercising their free will and going against what God desires. The stories of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, Cain’s failure to control his anger, and the Israelites’ intermarriage and idol worship serve as illustrations of individuals doing things that God did not want them to do. Or think of these examples: King Saul’s impatience in performing sacrifices, Abraham’s decision to have Ishmael through Hagar, despite being told the promise would come through Isaac, and the rejection of God’s purpose by the Pharisees and experts of the law. In all these examples we can see how human choices impact God and his desires.
But here’s the big question: Why does God allow free will if it can lead to evil and suffering? Well, the answer lies in the importance of free will for genuine love. True love cannot be mandated, forced or coerced. It requires the freedom to choose. Imagine someone following a checklist of how to treat you, out of fear of punishment, rather than out of genuine desire. That kind of love would feel fake and insincere, right? We all instinctually desire genuine love. So we can understand that God desires authentic, heartfelt love relationships, and this is only possible when individuals have the freedom to accept or reject His love.
Now, I won’t deny that it hurts when people choose not to love us. But the truth is, we can’t force someone to love us if they don’t genuinely want to. And God, in His infinite wisdom, understands this. He permits this freedom because He wants genuine love to flourish and for trust to be built.
Think about trust in our relationships. When we don’t retaliate or punish someone for not following our will, it allows the people around us to trust that we’re safe to be with, even if we have different desires. The same principle applies to our relationship with God. If God were to punish everyone who chose not to do what He wants, there would be no freedom. It would be like living in a dictatorship, and nobody wants that except for a dictator.
Interestingly, while free will provides us with the opportunity to experience God’s trustworthiness and our ability to choose to love Him, we often become disillusioned when others abuse their free will. We might mistakenly attribute their actions to God, expecting Him to prevent all evils because He’s all-powerful. But if everyone wanted to control everyone else’s choices, true love would be impossible. God respects our desire for freedom, and that means He must also respect the freedom of others, even when it leads to pain and suffering.
Let’s take a deeper dive into Isaiah and Psalms and explore how these scriptures highlight God’s desire for His people to follow His will and His longing to show them mercy. In Isaiah, we can see how much God wants the people to trust in Him and be strong and secure. He calls out to them, saying, “Come back and quietly trust in me.”
Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.
He is ready and waiting to be merciful and compassionate because He always does what is right. But unfortunately, the people refuse to heed His call and choose their own way instead. It’s a clear example of God respecting their decisions and not getting His will.
Another verse in Isaiah emphasizes this point. When God called, no one answered. He spoke, but they did not listen or obey. Instead, they did what was evil in His sight, going against His desires and will. It shows how God grieves over their actions and longs for them to choose differently.
Isaiah 66:4 Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.
In Psalm 81:11, we see a similar sentiment. God laments that His people would not listen to His voice and rejected Him.
“But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices. Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!”
As a result, He allowed them to follow their own stubborn will and counsels. But He expresses His longing for them to listen and walk in His ways. If they did, He promises to subdue their enemies and act against their adversaries. I am feeling really connected to God’s heart when I see him express his own sadness and grief over seeing people do wrong.
These passages demonstrate that God does not delight in bringing judgment or affliction. In fact, He is the weeping God, the God of compassion. He does everything in His power to guide people away from their own destruction.
So, just because God gives us freedom and respects our choices doesn’t mean He delights in evil or willingly brings judgment. His ultimate desire is to guide and protect His people. However, there are limits to His intervention. When individuals persist in choosing against His will, they can become vulnerable to the destructive forces of the enemy.
Jesus also echoes this sentiment in the New Testament, reaffirming God’s longing for people to listen and walk in His ways. These scriptures remind us that God’s desire is not to control us but to respect our decisions and choices. He extends His love and guidance, but ultimately, it’s up to us to respond and align ourselves with His will. I don’t know about you, but whenever I bring my grievances to God and I get a glimpse of his own grief over people rejecting him, it really touches my heart. It’s hard to put into words, but there’s something about it that fills me with awe. It’s absolutely fascinating how, when I choose to run to God instead of running away from him in times of hurt, one of the things that happens is that my heart becomes even more awestruck and filled with worship for him. It’s truly amazing to see how incredible he is!
So, when we witness or personally experience evil, hurt, and sorrow, it’s often because someone else has exercised their freedom to choose how they want to live their lives. Instead of feeling angry at God for not controlling that person for our protection, we have a choice. We can run to Him like children do when their siblings hurt them. Of course, we may be tempted to tell God how He should punish those who hurt us, and he can handle that just fine, but if we spend time with Him, comforting our hurt and receiving His love, we might be reminded of His mercy and wisdom. This can help us let go of any remaining stressful emotions we bring to Him. And let’s not forget, as the wisest parent, God will deal with that person in the right way, even if it’s not how we would initially think it should be done.
While the explanations of mystery and free will give us a better perspective on pain and evil, there are still situations where we wonder why God doesn’t intervene in circumstances that could be resolved without violating human free will. For example, think about a plane crash caused by mechanical failure. It raises questions about why God didn’t provide special revelation to prevent such tragedies. It’s important to recognize that there are instances where calamities occur without a direct connection to free will, like mechanical failures or natural disasters. In these cases, the arguments we’ve explored so far may fall a bit short. However, understanding the importance of free will helps us navigate doubts and frustrations that arise when we witness the misuse of freedom by others.
In this blog post, we’ve delved into the free will argument as a source of spiritually induced stress. By understanding that God allows free will for the sake of genuine love, we gain insights into why evil exists and how trust in God reduces stress caused by doubts. Remember, even when doubts arise, God offers us hints and assurance that we can safely anchor ourselves in His unwavering love. So, stick around for our next post, where we’ll continue to explore unanswered questions surrounding God’s love and the presence of evil and suffering.
If you haven’t joined my private Facebook group yet, I want to extend a warm invitation to you! It’s a place where we dive deeper into the topics discussed in my blog. In the group, I share a variety of tips, suggestions, and reflective questions to help you apply the content to your own life.
What I think you’ll appreciate is that I break down the blog content into bite-sized pieces throughout the week. This way, you can engage with the material at your own pace and have meaningful discussions with others who are on a similar journey.
So, if you’re looking for practical ways to apply the principles we explore in the blog, my Facebook group is the perfect place for you. I can’t wait to have you join us and contribute to enriching conversations. See you inside the group!
Love this! Thanks for diving so deeply into such a challenging topic.
I’m so glad you found it enjoyable! I appreciate your time to read and comment! 💜