|
Reflections from Life – Part 4 As in the previous three articles of this series, we are still camping as I write this. In Reflections from Life Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 I shared my struggles, my thoughts, my emotions, and the resulting uncertainty surrounding my Mom’s death and our present financial state. All that I have shared up to this point leaves me asking one question. "Lord, what is it You would have from me in all of this?" I have recognized Him throughout the entire process of loss, grief, and temptation because I have seen Him work in a similar manner at many other times in my life. There have been others whom have I loved that He has called home when they were too young. There have been other situations that have emotionally stirred me to the point of panic, and the temptation has been to run in a way that was not His way. There have been situations that other Christians might judge as wrong based upon the circumstantial evidence (i.e., what is seen). Yet through it all I have recognized Him and have attempted to follow His voice no matter the cost. Recognizing Jesus does not always make things easier. In fact, it can greatly complicate matters. One of my greatest points of struggle has been recognizing the hand of God in the sickness and death of my mom. In the last few days of Mom’s life, I was filled with anger at His "no" to my request for her healing. Likewise for us financially: the hand of God is very evident to me, but that does not mean I like it. "Lord, what is it you would have from me in all of this?" The more I grow to know Him the more confusing I find Him. Numerous times I have found myself in situations that appear to go against everything I have been taught about properly living the Christian life. In the "micro view" (close examination) things have appeared to contradict God’s written directives. I have agonized over this. Is it possible that God would contradict Himself or His word? My mind tells me no. Emotionally I scream, "NO!" I ask myself these questions quite often as He brings me to this point over and over in various ways. I have slowly discovered that in the "macro view" (in the big picture) it IS true that He never contradicts Himself. Think of Abraham being asked to kill Isaac (see Genesis 22). Human sacrifice goes against everything God commands regarding life and death, yet He asked Abraham to make this sacrifice. It seems a contradictory directive until we see God’s purpose--the big picture view. God is more interested in faith – our willingness to follow where He leads no matter the cost -- than adherence to written codes (See 2 Corinthians 3:4-6). But that raises even more difficult questions: How do we know that God is the One directing us? Why is it that we struggle to follow Him even when we have clearly heard His voice? "Lord, in our present circumstances, what would you have from us?" Verse for Reflection: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…" (Proverbs 3:5-7a) We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds (present tense) from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3; also see John 10:4). We have a living and present God and as we grow to increasingly know Him we discover that He is continually working in, on, and around us. He puts us in situations whereby we must choose between walking by faith and walking by sight (Hebrews 11:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:7). We are going to make mistakes, and we are going to get some things wrong. But no matter the circumstance, we keep pressing on to the One who is both the author and finisher of our faith. (To be continued…)
|
|