She was going through one of the toughest seasons of her life, and I had nothing to hand her. My dear friend was experiencing some of the same emotions I’d been through and yet, I didn’t know what to say.
The older I get, the more this seems to happen. “The less I know” as they say. There are some tragedies I just don’t understand and don't have the magic words to make everything better.
There are moments, as children of God living life in a flawed world, that are not glamorous. We don’t shout about them or post them on social media. Miscarriages, loss of a spouse, financial crises, the list can go on–-many of which are outside of our control. Because we are such finite beings, we only see a small puzzle piece of the grand picture God sees and understands. We can struggle with our limited view.
The Scripture says,
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”.
Sometimes these situations, these puzzle pieces that we don’t know what to do with, are us looking into a glass darkly. We don’t see the point or understand the why. We say we have faith, we do our very best to build up that faith, “...praying in the Holy Ghost” and putting our trust in God, staying faithful to the Word and to the house of God. Even so, it is all too easy to become weary and give in to the voice of the enemy that is constantly whispering lies into our ears.
Think of Job--each tragedy that befell him had to cross the executive desk of the Almighty God first. Yet, Job held fast to his loyalty and trust in God. In the end, he not only recovered all but was recompensed with double what he had before. He maintained a deep love for God.
Where do you turn when nothing seems to be going right? Sometimes, all it requires is a simple “Not my will, but thy will be done” on our part as we shift our perspective from thinking our way is the best, to trusting that Jesus truly knows best. Other times, all that’s needed is a healthy dose of the Word. It does wonders for a weary child of God.
The Bible doesn’t have clear instructions and play-by-plays for every single event in your life–-although, I think I can safely speak for all of us that I wish it did–-but at the end of the day, it has precious truth and evidence that God never changes. We can look into the glass darkly and say with full confidence that God is good and His plans are perfect.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
-Lamentations 3:21-25
Scripture also gives us the beautiful promise that, someday, we will know fully. If we run our race and finish our course, we’ll exchange this old world–-with all its uncertainties, chaos, and rumors of war–-for a perfect Heaven.
