Precedent (Covenant of Trust, #3)

by Paula Wiseman

There are enough things in life that will be your fault,” he said with a half smile. “Don’t freelance.”

“If I didn’t love him, it wouldn’t hurt so much.”

Shannon raised her head and started to speak, when Chuck looked at her and pointed toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“Dad, I—” “Not now, Shannon. Let’s go home.” The harsh edge

“If she loses your approval, then nobody else matters. That’s the way it is with daddies and daughters.

!!!

“She’s hurt because you didn’t give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“I’m not sedentary. I play golf all the time.” “I’ve played with you. You rent a golf cart. Go.”

“Either God can work around us and through us in spite of everything, or I need to turn in my preacher Bible.”

“I wish I knew what God was thinking when He let it happen.” “You’re mad at God?” Was she? Maybe. Probably. Yes. “I can’t believe that there wasn’t any other way for Him to accomplish His purposes than to take my son. He didn’t have to do this.”

“You are so consumed by what you feel, you’ve lost sight of what you know is true.”

She didn’t want to feel comforted and welcomed. She wanted confirmation of the cold, hard rejection in God’s heart.

Sometimes we want to think ill of God.

Glen said this was a continuation from last week. Also innocent.

the beauty of expositional preaching

she didn’t understand God anymore. She always believed He didn’t act randomly or capriciously. That just wasn’t His character. So how could Brad’s death possibly work for any good and God’s glory? No one could answer that one. Besides, God is the sovereign Lord. He can do what He wants and she had to accept it. Isn’t that what Job concluded?

it doesn't get much tougher than this

It wasn’t that simple. She had to resolve how a good, loving, heavenly Father could snatch her son away.

How could she trust that He was good, that He loved her, that He was working everything to His glory? She couldn’t.

“That’s a cop-out! He doesn’t work that way, and you know it.”

preach!

“You know, your pain, your feelings are more important to you than anything else in your life right now. That makes ’em your god.”

boom!

She looked up into the sky and shouted with a guttural primal voice she didn’t recognize. “How could You take him? What good did this accomplish? I’ve done everything You’ve told me to.”

deep pain laced with entitlement

God knows what it’s like to have a son murdered. He knows the frustration and the injustice . . . and the emptiness.” A sideways glance at Brad’s picture sitting on the desk caused her to tear up. “For months, I’ve felt like God did this to me. That He could have prevented Brad’s death, and for whatever reason, He just didn’t.” She wiped her eyes quickly with the heel of her hand. “I didn’t understand what God was doing and after a while, I didn’t want to.”

My head was way ahead of my heart when it came to reconciling with you, and we both had to wait for my heart to catch up. Intellectually, I know God is right and I’m wrong, but I don’t have the faith to say, ‘I’ll take whatever You give me.’ I’m pretty sure I can get there, though, if I have some time and some guidance.”

giving heart some time to catch up to head

“What can I do to help you?” “Be patient with me a little longer.”