7-24-04
Faith means believing in
advance what will only make sense in reverse.
Phillip Yancey “Where is God When it Hurts?”
Dear Family and Friends,
What a confusing, challenging, hard, exhausting year. For some reason, I
keep picturing a snow globe in my mind. You know, one of those pretty
things you see on the store shelves at Christmas time? Daniel and I can’t
resist grabbing them and giving them a great big shake. Instant blizzard!
Life for our family the past two years has seemed like that snow globe.
(Can anyone relate?) Finally, the storm has passed and even though the
snow is gradually settling, we are still a little stunned and dizzy from
the whole experience. I think, too, that our globe was not only shaken,
but hurled against a wall, because while the glass is still intact, some
of the pieces inside are broken or missing. It just isn’t the same.
One thing remains unchanged, however, and that is the character of God.
Three hundred and sixty five days ago, He was good. He is still good
today. “I the Lord do not change.” Malachi 3:6
Our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God's goodness.
Whether life is good or bad, God's goodness, rooted in His character, is
the same.
Helen Grace Lescheid
Jimmy Carter was once quoted as saying, “We must adjust to changing times
and still hold to unchanging principles.” I do not know the context of
that quote, but I was thinking that it could be applied to our
relationships with God. When life spins out of our control we frail human
beings need an anchor to cast into the angry waves, a fortress to run
into, a solid rock to stand on. I am so grateful that God is all those
things and much, much more. I praise Him for never changing, for never
failing , for His steadfast love.
Today marks the anniversary of Tim’s accident. We were easily distracted
from that fact all day as life kept us extremely busy. There probably
wouldn’t have been a whole lot of emotion even if we weren’t distracted,
though. Our friend, Don, was visiting from Japan last week and he
commented, “Wow, you all seem so strong.” I told him I wasn’t sure if it
was strength or numbness that allowed us to talk about Tim without
falling apart. Probably a little of both. It is comforting to know that
God understands even this about us. I can pray to Him with complete
honesty saying, “I love you , Lord, but I just can’t muster up any
feeling to go with those words anymore. I’m too tired and too emotionally
spent. All I have left to offer you is my will - today I choose to
believe you and obey you.”
When circumstances seem impossible, when all signs of grace in you seem
at their lowest ebb, when temptation is fiercest, when love and joy and
hope seem well-nigh extinguished in your heart, then rest, without
feeling and without emotion, in the Father's faithfulness.
D. Tryon
There has been no change in Tim’s condition. He has not had a major
infection for three months now. Today, he felt slightly warm and I
wondered if his UTI might be returning. I suspect that they cannot
completely rid him of the bad bugs that he has had in the past. I think
they’re just beaten back into submission for a while with antibiotics
because every few months the infection seems to return with a vengeance.
It has been a tough year and Tim has definitely had the worst of it, but
wherever my husband is, I know that he continues to believe that His
Savior has not abandoned him. I hurt for Tim seeing him in this
condition, but I firmly believe that God will deliver him when the time
is right. I got up one morning this week and thanked God for helping me
to hang on another day, and then I mused, “Will it always be like this?
Will Tim be like this for years and years? I can’t say that I can’t take
it another day because I have taken it day after day for an entire year.
I realize now that with Your help, I could do this until You come again.
I just don’t want Tim to have to endure a life like this day after day.
How long, O Lord, how long?” A few hours later Rae and I were sitting
together at Starbucks doing our weekly Bible study. It just so happened
that the lesson began talking about Job’s trial. One comment leaped off
the page at me. Paraphrased, it said, “Then just as suddenly as Job’s
trial began, it came to an end.” I thought back to the day Tim was
injured - it was so unexpected, so out of the blue. Tim had absolutely no
hint that life as he knew it was over for him. Tim’s trial will end
someday just as suddenly as it began. In the meantime, may we all
faithfully endure.
Thanks so much for being the presence of God to my family these past two
years. We wouldn’t have made it without you. We love you.
God bless you,
Carole and the kids
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
Katharina von Schlegel