I was having a conversation with a friend who shared an experience which I have thought about several times. She made one of those comments that causes you to think and perhaps even evaluate your theology.
She said one evening while at home simply going about her regular routine she felt that “still small voice” (my paraphrase) tell her, “Tomorrow is going to be a really good day.” But, when tomorrow came, her world was turned upside down – in a manner of speaking. On the surface it seemed anything but good. On the surface, it was catastrophic. On the surface, things went from good to bad, not good to better.
However, things didn’t stay “on the surface”. The bad event caused a chain reaction of other not so pleasant situations yet before she knew it, good was coming from the bad. There were benefits from the “bad event” she had not expected. God had said it would be a good day and even though it didn’t look like it at first she was beginning to see good come from it. She was focusing on the good coming out of the bad and trusting that God knows what He’s doing.
This is something I have been trying to do for almost two years. “Bouncing back” has never been a problem for me. I don’t carry the weight of the world on my shoulders or always focus on the negative. I’m a pretty positive person and can usually see the bright side of life. However, Eric’s death has been a challenge for me in those areas. I have not yet found the positive in it. I still occasionally struggle to see good that can possibly come from something so difficult.
I’m also a seasoned enough Christian to know just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not so. Each day I choose to believe God has a plan and will work good from this loss. To most of you that loss probably seems long in the past, but to me – to our family – it can seem very present. It’s something we are still very aware of and process on a regular basis.
One of the lessons we taught in our Children’s Ministry a few months ago brings some perspective:
Have you ever had a problem that seemed bigger than you? Have you felt helpless, like you couldn’t fix it,no matter how hard you tried? Sometimes life isn’t always easy. Sometimes family members get sick, people we love go to war, bullies at school make fun of you, parents don’t get along, and moms and dads lose their jobs.
Today we’re going to learn about a guy named Jehoshaphat who faced these kinds of big problems. In fact, an entire army was coming to destroy him and his people. It seemed like Jehoshaphat had nowhere to turn, but he chose to run to God. At one point, he cries to God, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”(2 Chronicles 20:12) When we do not know what to do, let’s learn how we can turn to God with our problems, like Jehoshaphat in our study today.
I guess that’s really what I’m learning in a more constant, practical way than ever before. I’m learning when I don’t know what to do my eyes need to be on Jesus. Actually, even when I know what I’m supposed to do my eyes better be on Jesus! That’s the way we are supposed to live life – with our eyes focused on Jesus.
Perhaps your situation doesn’t have to do with grief or healing or adjusting to a new life. Maybe you don’t have something of that magnitude to deal with or perhaps my situation seems small in comparison to yours. God still wants to be the One we focus on and trust. He wants us to know he’s present, involved and able. He cares and knows what we think and feel. Things may get tough and seem overwhelming but He can handle it. His love is greater than we can imagine.
JEV 