For school this year I've been reading The War between the States, a really interesting history book on the American Civil War. As I've continued, I've read accounts of horrible things done by both sides during this devastating war, things that have made me feel sick. In addition to this book, I read Finnikin of the Rock; and Duncan's War, the first book in a trilogy about the Scottish Covenanters.
While I really enjoyed Finnikin of the Rock, I'm not recommending you read it. Unlike the Hunger Games, it can easily be related to real life, and the truth is hard. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking, "I'm so glad that I live in a world of peace instead of a world of war. America is safe, and these horrible things don't happen here."
But I realized that I was wrong. This world is so broken, so full of sorrow and pain. And I don't know about you, but I can't deal with pain. At all. My heart gets numb, and all I can do is cry and try to hold myself together until the pain leaves. And this, from only secondary sources of pain. I haven't actually had to deal with personal pain myself.
And then I was handed a book. One Thousand Gifts. And I started to understand better how you can be hurt and still live with joy in this world of pain.
The Big Truth in that book is, "Our God is good." He delights in giving good gifts to His children. And His purpose is always to make us better and more like Him, even through really hard circumstances. He disciplines us because He loves us. No matter what happens, He will shape everything for His good purposes, and He is in control. And that is a very comforting thought to me.
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