But God Didn't
I've had more than one friend experience loss and tragedy in the past few days. A loving mother way too soon. A beautiful young lady with her whole life ahead of her. Earnest and sincere prayers weren't answered in the way we thought best. And it reminded me of my Momma and how we lost her.
See, even though there were complications during her open heart surgery, I was sure she would pull through, recover and have a wonderful testimony to give. She loved Jesus. She taught Sunday School. Her life was an example to me and others of God's grace, mercy and love. I prayed and wept before the Lord for her life. But God didn't answer my prayer the way I thought would be best. He took her home. And I was left with a decision to make.
When things aren't going well, when you lose your job, when you’re diagnosed with cancer, when your spouse walks away, when a loved one dies…do you decide to turn away from your faith, or do you hold on to Jesus that much tighter? Dear one, let me encourage you to hold on. Your prayers were heard, but our heavenly Father knows what is best. It's a hard statement to make, but I believe it with all my heart. There are just things we can't fathom in our finite minds, that He, in all His wisdom, love and mercy, has a clear and perfect knowledge of. And His will be the final, and best answer.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We will not always be able to understand the things we go through. To me, this verse means God knew we would struggle with the “whys” so He's telling us ahead of time to trust in the “Who.”
We've all heard the “but God” stories. I've read some incredible ones lately. Absolutely, no way possible things were going to work out in life for these folks. All the odds were stacked against them and looking like a huge Jenga game on it's last play. But God! He pulls off a flat out miracle that makes it completely unquestionable that it could have ever happened without His intervention. And yet, for some of our prayers, dreams, goals…the “but God” story becomes a “but God didn't” one. If God is sovereign, why does He allow this disappointment, pain and hurt? If only I could answer that well. My feeble attempt would be that we learn and grow through those times, hopefully closer to Him and His will for our lives.
Horatio Spafford had lost his only son, just four years old, to sickness, then two years later his four daughters aged eleven to two. Yet he penned one of my favorite hymns, It Is Well With My Soul. Believers, I pray that when you experience great loss, unreal tragedy and fierce pain, that you keep your eyes fixed on the One who holds your hand through it all, and that you are able to say, it is well. We've read the end of The Book and know the eventual outcome is in our favor. If you don't know my Jesus, I pray you would seek Him while He may be found. If I can help, please reach out. I want you to be able to say with me, it is well, even if God didn't.
See, even though there were complications during her open heart surgery, I was sure she would pull through, recover and have a wonderful testimony to give. She loved Jesus. She taught Sunday School. Her life was an example to me and others of God's grace, mercy and love. I prayed and wept before the Lord for her life. But God didn't answer my prayer the way I thought would be best. He took her home. And I was left with a decision to make.
When things aren't going well, when you lose your job, when you’re diagnosed with cancer, when your spouse walks away, when a loved one dies…do you decide to turn away from your faith, or do you hold on to Jesus that much tighter? Dear one, let me encourage you to hold on. Your prayers were heard, but our heavenly Father knows what is best. It's a hard statement to make, but I believe it with all my heart. There are just things we can't fathom in our finite minds, that He, in all His wisdom, love and mercy, has a clear and perfect knowledge of. And His will be the final, and best answer.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We will not always be able to understand the things we go through. To me, this verse means God knew we would struggle with the “whys” so He's telling us ahead of time to trust in the “Who.”
We've all heard the “but God” stories. I've read some incredible ones lately. Absolutely, no way possible things were going to work out in life for these folks. All the odds were stacked against them and looking like a huge Jenga game on it's last play. But God! He pulls off a flat out miracle that makes it completely unquestionable that it could have ever happened without His intervention. And yet, for some of our prayers, dreams, goals…the “but God” story becomes a “but God didn't” one. If God is sovereign, why does He allow this disappointment, pain and hurt? If only I could answer that well. My feeble attempt would be that we learn and grow through those times, hopefully closer to Him and His will for our lives.
Horatio Spafford had lost his only son, just four years old, to sickness, then two years later his four daughters aged eleven to two. Yet he penned one of my favorite hymns, It Is Well With My Soul. Believers, I pray that when you experience great loss, unreal tragedy and fierce pain, that you keep your eyes fixed on the One who holds your hand through it all, and that you are able to say, it is well. We've read the end of The Book and know the eventual outcome is in our favor. If you don't know my Jesus, I pray you would seek Him while He may be found. If I can help, please reach out. I want you to be able to say with me, it is well, even if God didn't.
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