But that isn't our life. We do not get to rehearse, or practice, or try out several ways of doing something and then let the director tell us which take to use. We don't have script writers, or make-up artists or lighting crews that always make us look our best. We don't have people feeding us the right words, putting us in the best locations or designing the perfect clothes to represent our personalities.
Life is more raw than that. There are no 'take 2s' or 'take 22's,' there are no do overs. It is what it is.
But that does not make us victims of chance or randomness. We are not helpless fish tossed about by the waves of life. We have choice, and power and opportunity to make the best of what we are given. We have a God who loves us, who died for us and who desires nothing less than to reveal Himself to us.
As we read His word, as we meditate on the scriptures, as we pray, fellowship, worship and commune with Him, He reveals His love, His care, and His presence in our lives. And as we move through the chaos of our world, He shows us how to live. Sometimes we follow Him and sometimes we don't, but whether we do or don't, He is still working with us, revealing Himself to us, walking with us, and giving us the power we need every step of the way.
But as I write these words that I know are true, my heart is aching and I am grieved becasue I know it is not always a simple process. As I sit in the comfort of my home, scripting out this blog, a very dear and close friend of ours, a mother of 4 children under the age of 10, is fighting stage 3 cancer. Her treatments are wrecking havoc on her body and she cannot be the wife and mother she longs to be. Her husband was recently laid off and so in addition to fighting her cancer, they must also fight their insurance company, and deal with the ramifications of the loss of both of their incomes. I do not understand this and - I wonder why. I wonder why God in His sovereignty allows all of this to fall on them. I know God can heal. I know God walks with them - but my heart doesn't want this script for them. My heart does not want this difficult road to be their path. I desperately want God to say "Cut, stop, let's change the script." I want this to be left on the cutting room floor - never to be seen. But that is not how it works.
Life is not edited for our enjoyment, it is lived for God's glory, and in His glory is His love, His compassion and His presence. I know God has not abandoned this family - or any other family that has a painful journey like theirs - we all know familes who struggle with illnesses, and divorces, and trauma. But as I watch this family walk this path, even though I know God walks with them, my heart still grieves, my soul still aches and I long to see joy and peace and health restored to them in a miraculous way.
Linking up with The Way I see it Wednesday
2 comments:
This is so true and I often long for the same thing, although, I had never thought about it this way. So often I wish that I could be the Director, because I do not understand the reason it is playing out the way it is.
Even this morning I was thinking of a young couple in our church whose little boy was only born with half a heart. He only lived for half of July and now he is gone.
One small little life--not even a month long...and now Melissa and David will miss little Daniel for a lifetime.
Unexplainable. Thank you for linking up, Susan.
I used to think it was wrong to feel my grief for myself or others. Now I know it is part of the healing process. I'm glad you feel for your friend. It is a terrible thing she and her family, are going through, It is great if she has a friend and a burden bearer in you. God bless.
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