Theology of Misery

I don't agree with the theology of misery. There are those in the church who would purport that God is simply waiting for us to declare what we don't want to do before he tells us what we need to do, so that he can simply match us up with the very thing we just got finished saying we don't ever want to do. It's ridiculous and, I believe, immature and ignorant.

I hate this picture that people have painted of God. It's so very very disgusting, depressing and destructive. It reduces God to a mathematical equation. It strips him of his identity as a Person. It leaves out the personal and intimate nature and quality of our relationship.

This picture has reduced God to nothing more than a principle to be reckoned with, like dealing with the laws of nature. We say to ourselves, "All I need to do, then, is click my heels three times, pray an Hail Mary, and hope that I have tricked and outsmarted that all-powerful God in heaven." Well, get real! God does not call us to live outside our desires and abilities. He desires to work with us, not against us.

Remember, God is for us, not against us. Celebrate his life and hope. He is not trying to, and nor does he want to, make our lives miserable simply because we thought, suggested or mentioned our wishes, desires or displeasures about certain aspects of our lives, life's choices or decisions we have to make.

We cannot will away the will of God just because we refused to declare the one thing we don't want to do. If that's what we need to do, then so be it. If it was never the thing we needed to do, then all the better. How about we finally throw off this silly superstition? God's will is not like the waves of the sea, blown and tossed about by the direction of the wind. His will is not determined by our likes and dislikes, by our whims and wishes. May we follow his leading no matter where it may lead.