Mourning is redeemed by hope. And both are wed in the freedom of eternity with Christ.
~ Makala Barnabas Doulos
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Beloved, G_d is arbitrary, but He is not capricious. He will do what He wants to do, but He is not in the business of crushing us for no reason.
He is Real. He is Love. He is Good. Always.
There are times, though, when He will allow the pain of our past choices to haunt us. Not ever to taunt us, or shame, or to condemn. We are free. We are forgiven. Period.
Yet, it seems He allows pain to bring about the testing of our faith. That we might lean into Him. That we might see the utter futility of doing anything other than abiding under the shadow of His wings.
i received a bolus of such pain recently. It was a chance to visit two precious people whom i had not seen in a couple years. My past life and sins caused this separation. And while forgiveness and some friendship has begun to flow between all of us, there are – perhaps – many years (or never in this life) before these relationships are fully restored.
Oh my, do moments like this hurt. The pain is manifold, multi-faceted and full-spectrum. The pain of wishing i had not caused the pain on the other… the mourning the loss of relationship… the inability to do anything to fix the issue… and on it goes. It is like a death of someone close to you. For a believer, there is ever hope, but there is a sadness at the loss.
So, what does one do about a problem like this? Nothing.
Nothing, at least in one’s own strength. Really. Anything we do in moments like these is likely to mess things up. Any action we take on our own is virtually guaranteed to take us – and possibly the other – away from the Life and peace of our Savior, and push us towards the death zone of our flesh. To be silent and to wait is surely the course.
Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD;
For the day of the LORD is at hand,
for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice;
He has invited His guests.
~ Zephaniah 1:7
Can we see it? The day when all of the separations like this, and our visible separation from Him will be over is very near. In naught but another moment all this trial will be past. Christ has made the way home – and back together with Him and each other – possible through His sacrifice on the cross. He has invited us home.
We can do nothing. But He makes the provision for what is impossible for us. The way home to Him – and each other – is with, in, by and through Him alone.
It Is Well with My Soul | Horatio G. Spafford
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
