My friend was spared. Two others are dead, perhaps because of a surgery they had and she was scheduled to have, perhaps not.
My brother is alive in Iraq and there’s a piece of me that feels relief when deaths are announced and his name is not among them. Then I feel pain for those who did lose a son or a daughter because even tho I don’t know the face or barely remember the name, that person lived, and breathed and walked this earth.
Another friend suffered the loss of an unborn child and the very same week I see a premie in the library, perfect and sadly unwanted by his biological mother, but wanted and cared for by a foster family. Even before the child was born that plan was set in motion.
Set in motion by who?
Disaster strikes and we look for answers… pain happens and we sink inside ourselves, sometimes we reach outward for more answers…
Our great God, comforter, refuge, strength, counselor… has chosen in his wisdom to withhold information from all of us. But what matters he has shared. What matters he gives freely and abundantly in his presence, in his word, in his conversation.
Science, theology, philosophy… the working of our brains… God gave us all of that thirst… that drive, that desire to know, but do you see what else he asks… that we are as children.
Watch the trust and faith of a child… tell a child a lie, to tease, to test, or maliciously and that child will believe you unchecked almost all the time… faith as a child, to hear a great big God say, “I love you, I am giving you this gift and many more. It is my will that you be a part of my life, come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
So search for your answers if you must, but at the end of the day, surrender what questions have not been answered giving them fully back to One who has it all taken care of and who will, in his time, IF you need to know, share exactly what you are asking of him.
4 comments:
I've known that things happen for a reason; a time to grow, to learn, to realise things. Sometimes they make no sense and to try and figure some of it out doesn't work. Guess it will be one of those questions I'll ask God when the time comes. He has a plan...as you've said to me before and he knows everything that's going to happen before it happens, and he'll be right there.
It's that strange tightrope: we *do* have a thirst for knowledge, a desire to know, and (I believe) it is God-given. But... that thirst too often leads to pride. Knowledge is not more important than humility (this is the lesson that I have to keep re-learning.) We are not the equals of the Creator of the universe, but we are His beloved children (if only we can accept that). Thanks for giving some more to ponder (as always...)
To act as little children and just trust that God knows best is sometimes/often the hardest thing to do as an adult. We are taught to be self reliant, to do things for ourselves, that we can only depend on one person to get it done, yourself. We need to be reminded that we are indeed the children and that He is the Parent. Thank you for the reminder.
I agree with dying dodo. It's hard to remember what it's like to be a child and just trust with everything you have on one thing. We get out of being a child sometimes too quickly and we have to be independent and 'grown-up'. The things you write are awesome.
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