Trusting God in a Hard World

I was brought up to believe that if you did the right thing- at least tried to do the right thing- you would be rewarded. Work hard, be honest, eat your peas and carrots and everything will turn out okay- that is - here is the formula for success- be a good person and be rewarded with the good life- You know- a nice house and car, good health, kids who turn out just like you want, fun vacations, comfort, plenty of money, a nice retirement- the American Dream. Isn't this what a good God would do for a good person? By doing my part, can't I trust (obligate) God to give me all the things that would make me happy? I have missed much of the truth in my blindness. I can not trust God to give me what I think will make me happy. I can not trust God to give me a life of comfort. I can not trust God to keep me from suffering. I can not trust God to keep death from me or those I love. I can not trust God to exact my vengeance. The truth is He has His own ends in mind. Ends that are far beyond me and my comfort here in this world. God has in mind to restore us (me) to Himself- to Unite my hard, cold, dead heart of stone to His own Great Heart and so to bring me a dead man to Life. He is not beyond taking the suffering this broken world inflicts and though He had no part in it's inception- using that suffering as a means to draw me to Himself For Restoration- For Healing - For Wholeness. The truth is without this suffering I am not sure I would ever seek Him out for life-Real Life.I revel in my own self-sufficiency without the gift of recognized need. I have seen it over and over again- men and women only willing to go into their own brokenness and woundedness for healing and freedom after they (I) realize the need for a Saviour. It is why we were barred from the Tree of Life in the Garden- lest we should take of it, eat and live forever in this state of walking death- seperation from God. I was ripped asunder to lose my own mother to death. I am greived today for the loss of a good friend- a woman cut down in her prime by a horrible and cruel disease that stole her from a husband who loves her and a son whose children she will never hold. I am angered to see another friend whose life is slowly slipping away, even as he remains faithful to the One who could do miraculous healing of his body, but has not intervened........... and on it goes- this pain- this suffering. I can not trust this God I have given my life to spare me any of this, but......... These Truths I know and cling to with all my heart- He Loves me, He is Good and He will use all these things- yes even these terrible things that cause such pain to bring me back to the Life that is Real Life. The Glory of God is a man fully alive. His Glory will be brought to fruition His Glory can not and will not be denied. He has Risen- beauty from ashes. A dry dead seed to the ground that springs forth with Life. He has risen from the Grave. He has conquered even the last enemy- Death itself He has risen in me for the Life I long for. Lord Jesus, Thank You for redeeming even these things in Your marvelous Love- Thank You that you work all things together for good. Thank You that You are Trustworthy and True. Have mercy Lord Jesus- Have Mercy on us all. Amen