So many times it's easy for me to admire people like Job or
hymn writers like Horatio G. Spafford for their faith and courage in the dark days
but
I realized that I don't always understand the weight, heartache and
brokenness behind those words. It's easy to sing those songs and repeat
those words when there's nothing bringing us down and sometimes we don't
fully understand that these songs and words
were penned down with grieves tears and in their darkest moments when
all hope was
gone.
Yet Job lifted his eyes unto heaven and sincerely proclaimed
"The
Lord gave and the Lord took away, blessed be the name of the Lord. "
Anna Spafford just after losing her girls in the raging
ocean proclaimed
“God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from
me. Someday I will understand why.”
So the question is; where do we go and to whom do we turn
when days get dark?
Who is our hope and confidence in those stormy days?
what is the reflection of our hearts? whether in words or songs?
Can we say with Bart Millard;
" I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone"
"The whole point of the song for me is the change that Jesus made in my
life is so real and so life-transforming that if He went dark, if He
went silent from now on, He would still be my greatest hope because of
what He has already done," he shares. "Basically, there's not a single
circumstance, I pray, that can derail me from what Christ is to me and
who I am because of Christ."
Bart Millard
Like Anna Spafford, we
may not understand today and we may continue to ask why...but there is a
comforter and a refuge in the moment so let's rest in Him. Someday,
someday we will
understand why.
“Cast all your anxiety on him…” Why? “…because he cares for
you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Consider it pure
joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds...”
Why? “…because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may
be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
“And we know that in
All things (whether good or bad) God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
