MSUSpartan wrote:
Back when I was Christian, I was always taught that God is always with you. Nothing happens that isn't part of God's plan. The whole footprints in the sand story, where when you're too weak to walk, Jesus carries you.
If that were true, there is no reason for suffering. You don't need to build character. God is supposed to be there to pick you up when you fall. You aren't supposed to ever have to face things alone, because God is always there. God is portrayed as an eternal parent. One whom is always watching, always looking out for you, and will never be gone one day.
I remember the picture with the footprints. If God were a helicopter mom or dad, the only bad thing to ever happen is you would be embarrassed and resentful that you weren't allowed to figure things out on your own.
If we are made in his image, and we understand and strive for virtues such as humility, forgiveness, and love, we can only assume this is the same approach God has. Maybe some of you have family who you love, but you see them suffer. Your brother has never been one to take advice without offense. The only thing I can do for my brother is literally just watch him screw up his life. If he calls me tonight, I will answer the phone.
Sometimes just being there is the best help. How do we remember god is there with us?
What works for me is to consider the religion as a metaphorical exploration of the struggle of man. Rubbing mud in the blind man's eye possibly refers to the firmament, our ground we stand on, mixed with that which we can't stand on, the water, exposed his eyes to the true nature of life and he was no longer blind. So many metaphors.
Lastly, "I am that I am", which I take to mean God refers to himself in the sense that he is everything (that goes without specifying birds, bees, trees, sun, humanity, and the laws of physics &science). That's where reality comes from. It makes more sense to say reality with all it's interconnected intricacies will take care of the righting of wrongs.
This is all very idealized, but we aren't ever truly alone. We are part of a wonderful collective known as humanity. Not to mention all else of reality.
This perspective developed while I was under a lot of stress. Closely related to my PTSD. It may have only been meant to serve a purpose for what I was going through.