People Who Know My Heart

I have a Facebook account, but very few friends -- intentionally.  I am not antisocial; I just don't care for social networking technology.  I prefer to share coffee and conversation directly and not digitally.  But, recently, I posted some photos from a teaching mission to India with Capstone Bible Institute, and that brought me to the posts of my few friends.  And there it was -- a photo with the caption:

People who know my heart never have to question it.

If there is an answer to theodicy -- and the recent destruction of Moore, OK begs for one -- this must surely be it:

People who know my heart never have to question it.

Of course, we do question.  I remember driving home from work the day of the tornado, before it hit.  As I listened to the radio and heard the weather forecast for the region, I prayed that God might spare his creation and his people from loss of life and property, that he might have mercy on them and be gracious to them.  The next morning I learned of the destruction of much of the town and of the tornado's direct hit on two elementary schools.  Many questions...

People who know my heart never have to question it.

What I don't know, what I likely never will know this side -- or even that side -- of heaven, is why Moore, OK was devastated by the tornado in spite of the prayers of God's people and of his ability to spare the town.  But, when my questioning heart and mind have become still enough to listen, in myriad ways I perceive God saying, "You know my heart.  You never have to question my love."  And that is true.  Before the dark times come, we must learn the heart of God, so that in the dark times we never have to question it.

People who know my heart never have to question it.

Of course, this isn't truly an answer to theodicy.  Instead, it is the way through it and out the other side, just as the cross was the way through human sin, suffering, and death and out the other side to forgiveness, comfort, and life:  not an answer at all, but a solution.

People who know my heart never have to question it.

Amen.