Yesterday I went to a beautiful celebration of a life lived to the glory of God--Nancy McDougal embodied what it meant to love God and love others. Thank You, Lord, for the inspiring example of lives like hers--much like Wynn Burrus, JoAnna McMillan, Ray Siegler, just to mention a few. Heaven grows ever sweeter as I contemplate the wonderful folks who have gone on ahead of us.
One thing that especially struck me was the passage of the Bible that Nancy particularly loved and had laminated on a card and kept in her Bible. Every single morning she read this passage, and what an encouraging way to begin the day! It's one of my favorite passages as well, and it's contained in the book of Lamentations.
Now by way of a bit of background information, Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, often referred to as "the weeping prophet," because he prophesied during the horrific years of his nation's destruction, exile and captivity by the brutal nation of Babylon. Not only did he give out God's truth at a desolate and hopeless time in Israel's history, but the very people he was speaking to rejected him and his message.
No wonder Jeremiah says right before this passage begins, "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me." (Lam.3:19-20) Isolated, discouraged, even despairing, Jeremiah looks around and sees only a barren, bleak landscape.
Anybody ever been there? Perhaps even now, in this season of Advent--this season of waiting...waiting...waiting for the coming of the King--you are tired and weary. Or lonely. Disheartened by all you see around you. Frightened about the future. Anxious about the uncontrollable. Or perhaps simply, deeply, sad over some difficult loss. Loss of a loved one...loss of a dream...loss of health...loss, even, of a special season of life that's now over.
We've all been there. Many of us are there now.
But Emmanuel--God with us--is right there with you, with us, in the thick of it. He's here with you now, and He'll be with you tomorrow and next week and next year and into eternity. No matter how alone you might feel, the truth is--You. Are. Not. Alone. Not ever. The Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth is right there with you, whether you're in the loftiest palace or the lowest pit.
But you have to stop and remember this truth. You have to recall and remind yourself where your God is (not only on the throne of the vast universe but also right there with you), who your God is (Savior, Redeemer, Lion of Judah, Lion of God, Creator, Sustainer, Deliverer, Comforter, Encourager, King of Kings and on and on!), and what He says.
And that means going to His Word! When we're utterly exhausted or distressed or discouraged, we need to do what the prophet Jeremiah goes on to do in the passage dear Nancy loves so much--you call to mind His Word and His character! "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love the Lord never ceases; His mercies are new every morning. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam.3:21-26)
Yes! Right in the midst of the pit of waiting or sorrow or despair, choose to call to mind who your God is, what He has done, and what He has said. Open the Word. Read it out loud--through tears if they fall. And allow your heart and mind to hear those healing, strengthening, revealing, encouraging words of Truth come out of your mouth.
When we remember and rehearse His Word, we have hope. (Lam.3:21) What a glorious gift hope is!
Remember and rehearse His steadfast love that never ceases. (Lam.3:22) His mercies that never come to an end and that are brand, spanking new every morning--and every afternoon and evening and night! (Lam.3:22-23) His infinite goodness. (Lam.3:25) Read, remember, rehearse and have your mind renewed and your heart revived. Maybe even copy this passage, and like Nancy, keep it in your Bible to remind you to enter your day with hope as you fix your gaze on the King of Kings.
Thank You, Father, for the life of Nancy McDougal and for her example of relentlessly and constantly loving You and others. Thank You for her love of Your Word and for the way she entered each day by recalling these great truths in Lamentations. And thank You that she is truly Home for Christmas and rejoicing in Your presence. Help us to be faithful as she was all the way to our finish line...which is really just the very beginning of real, true Life.
To God be the glory.
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