The deceased had a family of five children. The eulogy named them from the "youngest" to the "fifth youngest" - out of deference to the first-born.
In both cases, the information is accurate, though told in a way to mask the truth somewhat. In the same way, "half empty" and "half full" describe the same quantity - but with a different measure of hopefulness or despair.
We can look at the same circumstances of life from completely different perspectives.
A young woman in her early thirties had suffered from bronchiectasis for a number of years. Each winter the condition would worsen to a point where family and friends wondered if she would survive. People who visited her came away inspired and encouraged. She said, "I know there is a God. He is with me and gives me courage and strength for each day." Her brother, watching her, turned away from faith in God. "There can’t be a God," he said, "or my sister wouldn’t be suffering like this."
We could understand a direct correlation between suffering and evil. But we don’t have all the answers to the suffering of good-living people. We live in a fallen world. As the rain falls on the just and the unjust, suffering too can come on any of us, whoever we are. A healthy lifestyle and faith in God are a very big plus for our physical health, but don’t confer immunity from suffering. However, again and again I have had people say to me, "I don’t know how people cope who don’t have faith in God!"
Psalm 145 called on God’s people Israel to remember "what God has done." Much of it recounts the history of how their ancestors came to live in the promised land of Canaan. Specifically, the Psalmist refers to Joseph (vv. 16-22) and to Moses and the exodus (vv. 23-41).
Joseph - as slave and prisoner - had to do faithfully all that was set before him. Many times it must have seemed to him that he was stuck here forever. The record says that "the Lord was with Joseph" (Gen. 39.2, 21, 23). Finally, as ruler of Egypt with his brothers before him, he declared, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God" (45.4-8). He said that in retrospect, but did he know it at the time?
The Israelites stayed in Egypt for over 300 years. A time came when they were made slaves with harsh task-masters over them. How about all God’s promises now? Then Moses comes along - educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, uniquely prepared to lead them to freedom and fulfilment. Marvellous signs and all, the whole period of the exodus and entry into the promised land was fraught with difficulties and unbelief.
And yet... "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done... Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always" (Ps. 105, 1,4).
So often we are tied to the present moment - good or ill. We fail to take in the "big picture", including the presence and grace and love of God.
The old hymn called us to
If God could take the death of his Son Jesus and make it the means of forgiveness and grace for all believers, there are surely no limits to what he may do with your situation and mine. And as that death led to resurrection on the third day, there are grounds for solid confident trust in him forever.
| Prayer: Eternal Father, we cannot step outside your presence and love, yet we become overwhelmed with forgetfulness and fear. Help us to remember what you have done - especially what you have done for us in Jesus who lived and died and rose again for us. Help us to remember your promise to be with us always and to be at work for good no matter what is happening. Give us a confident trust in you for the unseen future. In Jesus’ name, Amen. |
When I look back
and only see
hurts
received from others
and failures
of my own,
I miss
what God has done,
his grace
to forgive,
to heal,
to work
his good
in me.
And even now
the seeing eye
of God,
watching,
loving,
holding me.
I cannot see
yet need not fear
the future.
Nothing
that may come to be
can take me
from his love
and care.
He sees
and knows -
that is enough
for me.
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