Reflection: God is God
“For goodness’ sake, Dad, pick a side!” This comment, said in jest by my daughter, was actually a reference to my getting critically ill again, but somehow, not dying. I’ve caused her emotional exhaustion for years.
What on earth do you say in response? I could be pious, point to God and say, ‘blame him,’ or I could point to the ministry that has occurred in my years of sickness. But the reality remains; because people love, they grieve. So what did I do? I laughed, apologised and gave her a hug.
Perhaps later, I will say three things. The first is that God is good. The second is that I am under God’s management and am therefore his responsibility. (This doesn’t guarantee a pain-free life, but it does guarantee that God will be with me.) Thirdly, God is under no obligation to explain his purposes to me or to anyone else. However, he often chooses to share the secrets of what he is doing – because God loves to confide in his people (Amos 3:7; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
Sometimes I want to say, “Please see what I can see. Please see that we really can trust God with our grief and frustrations.”
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, you have given us hearts that hurt when loved ones are dying. Please shine your love and hope into the hearts of all who grieve, so they can see your hope.