Hope you don't mind, but I'm casting my mind back one more time this morning, since it's related to something I shared at Bible study the other day. It's a reminder of something John Piper once said that I've never forgotten: "In any given situation, in every circumstance, God is doing a thousand different things that you do not see and do not know."
We're casting our minds back to the day our little group of "January Babies" arrived in the Abacos. It was late in the afternoon and just before it got dark, we enjoyed a quick glimpse off the back deck of the house that seemed to be suspended over the bluest, most beautiful ocean you’ve ever seen. The view took your breath away.
We're casting our minds back to the day our little group of "January Babies" arrived in the Abacos. It was late in the afternoon and just before it got dark, we enjoyed a quick glimpse off the back deck of the house that seemed to be suspended over the bluest, most beautiful ocean you’ve ever seen. The view took your breath away.
Well, very early the next morning, I awoke and crept downstairs in the predawn darkness, and guess what? I could see absolutely no evidence of that astounding beauty. The room was dark, outside was pitch black, and for all I knew, there was just a black ugly void outside those windows. I could have been anywhere in the world for all I could see that dark morning. I could have been in Raleigh or Apex.... or Newark, NJ (which, in case you’ve ever been there, is not a particularly beautiful place).
Yet just outside that window was unimaginable beauty and peace and serenity and crystal clear evidence of our Creator and His glorious creation. It was all right there--just hidden from my objective view. And I could have begun to doubt--maybe this was all a dream. Maybe it's not really there at all. Maybe I really am just here all alone...in Raleigh...or in Newark.
But you see, I had to remember: there was two stories going on: the story of what I could see--nothing but darkness--and at the same time the story of what I couldn’t see--unimaginable beauty that was right outside the window, temporarily hidden by the darkness.
But you see, I had to remember: there was two stories going on: the story of what I could see--nothing but darkness--and at the same time the story of what I couldn’t see--unimaginable beauty that was right outside the window, temporarily hidden by the darkness.
How often is that true in our own lives? We start to doubt in the darkness what we learned in the light.
But in our lives, there are always so many things going on that "we cannot see and do not know," for there are always at least two stories going on. Our story that we can see and taste and touch... but then also God’s story--a deeper, greater, but largely invisible story.
But in our lives, there are always so many things going on that "we cannot see and do not know," for there are always at least two stories going on. Our story that we can see and taste and touch... but then also God’s story--a deeper, greater, but largely invisible story.
Our story is temporal; His eternal. Our story is sometimes confusing and chaotic; His is always clear and perfect. Our story can be sorrowful and sin-scared; His is forever a story of redemption and rebirth and renewal. Our story can sometimes be ugly; His always beautiful. Our stories every now and then can appear hopeless and desperate; His always brimming with hope and glory. And our stories can end in death; but His always end in resurrection.
And He's always transforming our imperfect stories into His perfect story.
So today, if you start to doubt God's love or wonder about His plan, remember... there are two stories going on, and the Master Author is working and moving and crafting His beautiful story and weaving it all into your story. And one day we'll all be able to see how He redeemed and used our little stories for our greater good and His greater glory. Because He's just always up to something... and it's always good and glorious. To God be the glory.
And He's always transforming our imperfect stories into His perfect story.
So today, if you start to doubt God's love or wonder about His plan, remember... there are two stories going on, and the Master Author is working and moving and crafting His beautiful story and weaving it all into your story. And one day we'll all be able to see how He redeemed and used our little stories for our greater good and His greater glory. Because He's just always up to something... and it's always good and glorious. To God be the glory.
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