But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 20-25
Grief. I read today, “Grief comes in waves. Today I am drowning.” Have you been there? I have. Grief is not one size fits all. It is however our universal human experience. An experience we are not equipped to handle and each does the best they can. Grief for Dummies has yet to be written!
David Platt in his sermons on the book of Ruth made the statement, “God ordains sorrowful tragedy, for God to set the stage for surprising triumph.” (emphasis mine) Is this all I need to remember when deep sorrow, sadness, sickness and standing at a graveside all descend at once? Is God really sovereign or am I at the mercy of coincidence?
This is a wrestle I know all too well! As I read four short yet profound chapters in the book of Ruth it is easy to assume all the drama happened quickly when in fact a close reading reveals it happened over more than a decade. More than ten years of grief, poverty, questions, changes, more grief, and no hope for a future. (Ruth 1:20-21) Much like Job, Naomi and Ruth face one loss after another. Each more difficult because it becomes complicated grief. David Platt continues and calls this story the “romance of redemption.” Romance? Really? Try tragedy. No triumph in sight.
Susan wrote just a few weeks ago on Broken to Mended. (Feb. 13, 2018) Freda wrote on Pain: God’s Megaphone. (March 5, 2018). Each of us who write for this wee blog know the wrestle with God during times of deep hurt. Our questions bounce off Heaven’s door and God can seem so silent for so long! I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes: “The Teacher is always silent during the test.” He, God our Heavenly Father, is building up our faith and He silently asks the question, “Do you trust me?” If the answer is truly “yes,” we can wait patiently. If the answer is honestly “no,” we wrestle hard.
God is sovereign. (Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 46:10) Nothing escapes His notice. (Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 139) Everything that comes into the life of one of His own MUST come through His loving hands. (Job 1:8, Luke 22:31) As an earthly father must at times allow consequences to be our teacher because we have failed to heed the warnings given, so God will allow circumstances in our lives. It is pure love that motivates His decisions. (Isaiah 41:10)
What are you struggling with today? What sorrow has overwhelmed your tender heart? Are you like Naomi, in the story of Ruth, without hope for tomorrow? Would you ask the Father to give you a glimpse of what He is doing on your behalf? Write out David Platt’s words and tape them to your mirror and begin to thank HIm for all He is doing and for all those He will use to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. God ALONE can redeem your circumstances and work all things together for good. (Romans 8:28) There are no coincidences in the economy of God. He is in control of everything. (Luke 12:22-26, Revelations 1:17) Yes, this is difficult to swallow some days, unless we remember the day that cost God the Father everything. The day Jesus, His one and only Son, died for the sins of man. This was the ultimate “sorrowful tragedy” which “set the stage for surprising triumph” over death and the grave and the enemy of our souls!! Who could have imagined Holy God would love us this much? This is the greatest expression of LOVE and it IS a love story of redemption: God pursues us. God sacrifices for us. God covers us with His protection. God pays out our debt. God makes us His very own and gives us His name. God provides all our needs. (He uses people……….)
Where is God when “famine, death, despair, grief, shame, loneliness, sickness, sin, enemies, and fear” come? He is just beyond your vision with His mighty hand in perfect control of the situation. Stop wrestling like a toddler who does not want to go to bed. Breathe. Rest. Wait. Trust. He will make your life a living expression of His Love. God’s Word promises total redemption and restoration. We pine for the Garden. Our collective hearts mourn every day something is lost. Jesus promises to wipe our tears from our eyes. He has seen and collected every tear we’ve cried. These will be turned into the crystal sea.
Blessings by Laura Story
Treading through rough waters,
