Our theme for the week is Olympics and in the mornings I will be comparing our lives in relationship to God to a race. We'll be talking about how running our the right race (in relationship with God) will result in a wonderful prize (eternity with that God). We'll be talking about seeking out coaches to mentor us (like Paul & Timothy's relationship), and surrounding ourselves with teammates who encourage us to love God and people more and do what's right. We'll be talking about training ourselves and how that is difficult but it gets easire over time, and how it is definitely worth all the hard work. On Thursday we will be talking about hardship and pain. We'll see how in Hebrews 11, many people before us have obeyed God, even when it was hard, because they had faith that they would one day receive a reward that is better than all the suffering they have experienced. We'll also talk about how God has a different perspective on our hard times than we do. That's because we're just flailing about in them, but God is working them out according to his plan for our lives. He will use these hard times to grow us, to strengthen us, and to draw us closer to him.
That's what I'm planning on saying this week. But saying it is soooo much easier than doing it. The last couple days have been very difficult. On Wednesday I talked with two different people who are going through gut-wrenching, life-altering hardships. How do I offer hope to someone who feels as if they are drowning in pain and grief and uncertainty? In the end, all I can do is cry with them, pray with them, and remind them that God has not left them and that nothing that is happening is beyond his control. There is hope, dear world, even when you cannot see it or feel it or imagine it! Jesus himself experienced betrayal, abandonment, emotional and physical suffering; but in all that he knew that the pain would end in the conquering of sin. And when our character and our lives have been perfected in His presence--and sin is no more, and the curse is no more, and this fallen world is no more--then, THEN, you will experience the fullness of joy, and you will not have to fear this pain ever again.
So I've said it. But the Lord is calling me to live it. Yesterday my car broke down, leaving me stranded on the side of the road. Yes, the car that was to drive me and two counselors out to camp tomorrow. I need to get a new car, but how am I going to afford that? This morning I found out that there is a problem with my loan application. We're going to see if we can fix it, but there is a possibility that my home-buying dream may not be working out afterall. And then there is something else, which I would rather not share in this public forum, but it has fairly serious ramifications for my life and has caused me much anxiety over the past few weeks. I'm not trying to pretend that these things are comparable with the pain that some of you have experienced or are experiencing, but it has been enough that I have had to verify whether or not I could truly practice what I preach (to use a cliché).
So I'm sitting here and I'm kind of wondering why I'm writing this all here. But I think this is why. It's because I want to say to myself and to all of you that I believe that God is in control of my life. Nothing is happening to me without his consent, and I trust him to fulfill his promise to work all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Does that make our pain stop? No. But it does give us hope for the future whether that future will be fulfilled in this life or in the next. God does not promise to give his people easy lives, free from problems or pain or suffering. Instead he asks us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, one who bore so much burden for the sake of others. But he does promise to never leave us, to guide us, to comfort us, to give us peace, to use what we are going through to strengthen us, and to work it for good in our lives. And he also promises us a beautiful future day when it will be said:
_____________________________________________"The dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away!"
I would truly appreciate your prayer this week for my friends, for our week at camp and for me. That all would bring glory to God, whatever may come.
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