Late yesterday afternoon, I was running a few errands and suddenly thought to look at my car's clock--it was about 5 p.m. Exactly 11 weeks ago at that very time, four precious girls were lying by the side of the road after the accident, and life had changed forever.
The funny thing is, most of those changes have been for infinite good--we can already see that. Even this soon after the accident, it is clear God allowed it for greater good and His greater glory. Sure, there has been a lot of pain and uncertainty and heartache and fear. The girls are still dealing with a lot. But, boy, there has just been so much good for so many people--folks coming to know Jesus, witnessing the power of miraculously answered prayer, strengthening of the faith of many, appreciating what is truly important--gaining a proper perspective about life, realizing the priceless gift of family and friends, and being thankful.
O the transformational power of gratitude! All I can say is, thank You, Jesus! "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom.8:28) Amen, Paul! Even the hardest things in our lives can be the means to greater, deeper joy, for as Warren Wiersbe writes, "the bumps are what we climb on."
But isn't it wonderful that we don't know the future? Seriously, we tend to think we'd be better off if we knew what was coming, but I think that would be nothing but a huge burden. We would fret and worry and dread and would break under the load of all that fear. If we had known ahead of time about this accident and it's aftermath, we would have said, "No way. No way can we get through that. That will be horrific."
But that's not what happened. God just carried us all the way, day by day, hour by hour, step by step. Friends and family just stepped in and picked us up and helped bear the burden every single day. It was truly remarkable. Humbling. It was as if each day, when it all became too hard, too heavy to bear, there the Lord would be, undergirding and strengthening and encouraging. And there our beloved friends and family would be, calling and texting and cooking and driving and cleaning and loving... and praying. And praying. And praying. And all I can say is thank you thank you thank you.
But today, I just want to share one thing for which to be thankful: that we don't need to bear tomorrow's burden today. Stop worrying about what will happen if.... Stop fretting and wringing your hands over how on earth you will handle this if...
Trust God to give you what you need tomorrow, when you need it. Like that manna in the wilderness. Day by day. Day by day. "Give us this day our daily bread."
"No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so. If you find yourselves loaded, at least remember this: is is your doing, and not God's. He begs you to leave the future to Him and mind the present." (George Macdonald).
Trust Him with tomorrow, but thank Him for today. And keep thanking and thanking... and watch that worry recede as the worship overwhelms.
By the way, that errand I was running? It was to drop off some water for a senior breakfast that all four of those precious girls will be going to next week. They will all graduate on time. Who would have thought? Well, God. He knew all along.... and smiled. Because only He knows the future and holds every single day in His perfect, powerful hands. So we can rest in that. In Him. And be thankful.
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment