James 1:17 in the Amplified Bible says
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
I’ve wondered lately if we often are too quick to reject something from God, not realizing it’s a good and perfect gift from Him intended to make our lives easier.
This doesn’t apply to me specifically as something I’ve rejected, but, say, contraception. Why wouldn’t that be a gift from God to women enabling women to have more choice over whether and when they have children? In the case of contraception techniques for men, why wouldn’t men give women the gift of helping them have choices about when they conceive children?
This is so controversial – but maybe God even gave safe abortions to women because they decrease overall suffering. God obviously cares and knows every detail of unwanted pregnancies. Who are we to tell God “this is the way to handle them, we are not going to allow women have safe legal abortions anymore”
I’m sure there are ways in which I’ve rejected good and perfect gifts from God, not realizing he wanted to make my life easier. (Maybe not being on mental health medication for almost 20 years was a choice I should not have made. But I do not believe he is that cruel.)
For me, trusting God is walking a path on which I accept those things which make my life easier as good and perfect and from him. As well as accepting what makes me life harder. God’s plan cannot be only and specifically to make my life harder. Difficulties can only be for me to learn what I need to learn in order to be ready for the next thing God – through his love – calls me into?