I thought I’d sort of continue on from where I left off yesterday (and then life goes on). Things happen; usually a bunch of things have to happen in order to arrest our attention – unless someone yells, Fire! or someone comes in bloody or the phone rings in the middle of the night. Those things get out attention.
Unfortunately, there are a whole bunch of other things happening (and not happening) that don’t get out attention — at least not until some crisis happens. Even then, we may address the interruption and move on… never seeing — really seeing — what’s going on. Thus, the damage being done by too much computer/electronic device games or text messaging is not so easy to see (harder to admit). Things happen, though, and we see them if we would break away long enough to listen and if we’d stop long enough to see. Just take a look around — anywhere — everywhere — you’ll see distracted individuals all connected and disconnected at the same time.
Things happen; and life goes on. Here’s where I hope, today, to be of some help. When things happen that bring us to our day of reckoning, we might foolishly focus on the day of reckoning instead of on the “things happening” and we might wallow in our despair over what we think we’ve lost instead of the damage our actions (or inaction) caused. On the first day of the greatest sorrow we’d ever faced, my husband asked me for my computer — and as I’ve written in the past (here) you know that I humbly and gladly did so. I recall thinking: Anything! Anything at this point, I will do it. I knew. I didn’t need to be asked twice and I didn’t need an explanation — nor did I give one. I knew. My days of being overly distracted by the computer had culminated in a breach of attention to my home and resulted in a deep time of sorrow, chastening and redemption.
Time and space do not allow for recounting of the marvels and miracles the Lord showed and did on my behalf and on the behalf of my family. In the 97 days one of our daughters was away, in the near death experience of our missionary son, in the loss of friendships and in the division of our home church, God worked deeply, powerfully, tenderly, painfully and lovingly. I cannot blame, nor do I seek to blame, anyone or anything… but this I know: what the devil intended for evil, God is working for good.
The life goes on part is this: When we face trials and temptations, we can be assured of these very things: God is working all things together for our good and His glory and “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” –1Cor 10.13
The days I thought I could not bear: passed. They passed by and underneath were the loving Arms. They way of escape? A humble and contrite heart seeking faithful obedience. Period. I don’t know how else to explain the outpouring of grace in those dark days (and these). When we seek Him, He is faithful and just to hear our prayers — and though the consequences may continue on (and be ugly!), you can rely on this: God is and will be at work as time goes on. He is the restorer of the breach — He truly is! He is the lover of our souls — He truly is! And every son [daughter] He loves, He chastens — ouch, He truly does!
So then what? What’s after a big fall? I learned a valuable truth about God in the earthquake, the wind and the storm — the Lord taught me this at the time and then later during a study of 1Kings. It’s what I most longed for — then and now — the still small voice of the LORD. “.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19.11-12
After the fire: the still small voice — and isn’t that the sweetest .
Next: (part 3-ish) Make no provision for the flesh.
