Thoughts on God’s Ways from C.S. Lewis

I have read the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis many times, and I can now see much more symbolism and depth than I did before.

Two parts stuck out to me from ‘The Horse and His Boy’ when I read it recently, and made me think about the way God works sometimes.

When Shasta, the hero of the story, just managed to get to Archenland to tell them of the enemy that was about to attack, he was given another message that he had to run immediately to give.

In the parable of the talents, each of the stewards are given a certain number of talents and the ones who use them wisely are rewarded with more. In the same way if we do one job well that God has given us, we might well be rewarded with a harder job!

On the face of it, it seems a bit strange. But the ultimate reward of doing a harder job is greater and it gives us the opportunity to grow in our faith, so it does make sense.

The other comes shortly after in the story, where Aravis, Shasta’s fellow traveller, has her wounds from the scratches of a lion dressed by the Hermit. He says,

And he was right, because later Aslan, the great Lion, talks to Aravis and tells her that he was the one who gave her those scratches, and they were wound for wound, the same as her servant had after she was whipped for being drugged by Aravis.

There is something deep in here which we often struggle to come to terms with – that God loves us, and in that love He also disciplines us. ‘My son do not despise the Lord’s discipline, nor be weary of His reproof. For whom the Lord loves He chastens, just as a father the son in whom he delights.’ Prov 3:12

But that doesn’t mean that bad things that happen to us are God’s discipline either, because there are all kinds of other reasons why God lets things happen – some of which we may never know while we live on the earth.

What happens to us, whether good or bad, is not luck or coincidence, but God’s providence. And we can’t be harmed without Him allowing it. We may not understand it at the time, but we can be sure that if we love the Lord He will work it all out for our good.

I like what the Hermit said, that there is no such thing as luck. And I think it is good to be open to the possibility that God might be testing us, or giving us harder jobs to do, or disciplining us. Then we might be more inclined to respond well rather than sinking into despondency and self pity.

Linking up to Spiritual Sundays, Faith Filled Fridays and Scripture Sunday Link Up