Learning through life's experiences

When I was younger, I believed that God will always protect me but as I got older, wiser and learned what God have taught me. I like this quote by Paul Little "Faith recognizes the fact that God is in control of my life. Whether I believe it or not, it's a fact that God is in control of the world. If I don't believe it, I'm just robbing myself of the enjoyment of the fact." What I am trying to say is that God is always directing and sometimes things will happen along the way. I have Faith in Him. Through my faith, I obey His Word. The more I grow in Christ the more I will understand His Word. Isaiah 48:17This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Solomon was wise and he knows: Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Whatever trouble we face, God wants us to use the opportunity to respond to the trouble in His way, not our way as Jesus said in Matthew 6:32-33: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." If we ignore our circumstances, how can we learn? Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. James 1:9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 1 Peter 1:11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. People will view God is ALL good, which is true but the definition of "good" in God's point of view is different than our human point of view. 1 Corinthians 9:8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? 1 John 4:5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. The Bible talks about that God give and take away. He allow the good and the bad to happen. Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. If God is ALL good, then Solomon would not write the negative side of God in Ecclesiastes. From God's point of view. I arrived naked from the womb of my mother; I will leave in the same condition--with nothing. There's a right time and way for everything. He knows my current state and my tomorrows, if I have one. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). Are we corrupting our thoughts with our wishful images of God? Contentment says, "Thy will be done, Lord," even when His will means a cross. Contentment is never being possessed by our wishful thinking images of God. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows beforehand what we will need and He will provide beforehand according to His will. Wisdom sees everything in focus and be able to trust God no matter what happens. God leads us to our destiny according to His will and glory. No matter what we do, God is always guiding us through our circumstances (good and bad). Nothing is impossible for Him. God is Good and at the same time, God is Holy and Sovereign. Blessings, Jim