Suspicion, part 2

As I have reflected over my own posts, I must confess that there is at least one thing I forgot when I wrote my post on suspicion. In general, I do become hesitant when I find someone to be overly suspicious, but it is unfair to characterize everyone who is suspicious in such light. As with most things in anyone's blog, the issues come straight out of issues I am dealing with in my life, or at least issues I think are important enough to spend time reflecting on. But I guess that is rather obvious ...

In any case, as I continued to reflect on why people are suspicious, I find myself considering the case of someone who has been hurt severely. I can understand that if you are mugged, you might have an aversion to strangers on a street for a while. If you have been fired unjustly, you might look with a suspicious eye towards any potential employer. I think it is obvious that such things happen, and I missed this on my other post because of what I was focused on in my own life. But, stepping back again, is this type of suspicion justified?

I'm not saying it's not easy to do, perhaps even somewhat "natural." But is it an appropriate response? I can see such a reaction flowing out of self-protection - but is that a good response? In every case? Or, are we called to put our trust in One who is sovereign over all things, including the tragedy of our lives? I don't say that lightly - I don't want to go through tragedy myself. I will do immensely complicated things to avoid a situation that I feel has an undue probability for trouble. In many ways, I can see that this is loving and helpful to my family. But, if Christ calls me to go through something and to come out of it with a supernatural forgiveness and trust in Him, I might be called to re-enter the very environment that put me in danger before. And that scares me. It is not safe to trust a God who might take you through such dark valleys - if your safety is of the highest value. But, it is actually the best place for us to be - if He is all wise, all-loving, and all-powerful. And promises that all things work together for your good. Somehow, beyond our feeble minds. Nothing comes into my life that does not first go through those nail-pierced hands. I can't say that I have willingly followed into many dangerous places, and frankly, I don't want to. But something in me wants to want to ... I want to be so caught up in who God truly is that the vision of Him in all His Glory is enough to get me through whatever He chooses to take me. Admittedly, these thoughts could be easily dismissed as "theoretical," and perhaps they are of little value. And so, I don't condemn anyone who is suspicious when they have been severely hurt. I understand how that can be. I'm no different. I wish I was, though ...

But, even when we have been hurt, that does not need to define us or our reactions. God is bigger than the injustice you suffered. He will also make all things right. He is trustworthy, true, just, and powerful. And, thankfully, merciful ...