NicoleTriscari

God is not a formula. Earning rewards for good behavior reminds me of Pavlov’s dog, which was a psychology experiment that proved conditional response. Pavlov would ring a bell, and the dog would receive a treat. He did this over and over again. Eventually, the dog would start drooling when he heard the bell. What does that bell look like for you? For me, it goes like this: if I run, then I will be healthy (and slim!). When I majored in Psychology, then I would have a career in that degree. Yet, this is not the case. Instead, thousands of college students are in debt and have a career unrelated to their degree. Healthy people who run and workout have heart attacks. God is not as black and white as a formula. When I treat God like a formula, I become disappointed.

God’s wisdom is too great to reason with. My perspective is only based on the 32 years of life that I’ve lived on this Earth. There is no beginning or end with God. When I’m experiencing suffering and pain, reason and judgment are what I turn to. I reason because my 4 years of marriage is long enough now for me to have an understanding of what marriage should and should not look like. God’s gracious invitation is: “Okay Nicole, do you want to judge the entirety of human beings? Of the wrongs done to them, and what evil they do to others – and then punish them for it?” I confess that I’m okay with the judging part, but when it comes to punishment, umm, no thanks. Jesus came to absorb my punishment. I am amazed and perplexed at how this actually took place on the Cross! Jesus took my punishment. He took everyone’s punishment. Ultimately, God is just, but it’s okay to wrestle with God about the pain and suffering I will have while here living this little life of mine.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton