BLOGWORDS – Sunday 13 January 2019 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – DEATH COMES AS A THIEF

FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – DEATH COMES AS A THIEF

 

            Dedicated to Israel Jeremiah Burton 12-27-18 – 1-4-19

 

I read a book several years ago, Living the Lord’s Prayer. In it, the author (whose name I cannot remember) broke the prayer into its parts, a separate chapter for each phrase in the prayer. Of all the depth of revelations in it, it was the second chapter, “Who art in Heaven,” the meaning, and a single image that has stayed with me:

 

Basically, we’re not God. He sees and knows things that we cannot begin to understand. And when we have questions, sometimes we have to do the thing that goes against every fiber of our natural being, and accept the unacceptable.

 

Like death.

 

Do I believe that God had some reason to take this child’s life? No, I do not. Do I believe He allowed it? Sadly, yes, I do. Was his death some form of punishment? Or lesson? No, with all my heart and spirit, I do not believe that is how God operates.

 

I could rail against Him, rant in His presence, curse at Him even. But that won’t give me answers, and it certainly doesn’t make me feel any better.

 

Do I grieve with my friends? Yes, certainly. My heart breaks for their loss, and I feel the sting of it with them.

 

Does this mean God is not sovereign?  Not Who He says He is? No, not at all.

 

How, then, do we explain?

 

Sometimes, we just don’t.

 

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

 

Sometimes, we have to let go of our natural understanding, and trust that our Father—who art in heaven—will see us through. Will carry us when we can’t go on.

 

That He weeps with us in our sorrow.

 

 

Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of His wing.  Psalm 91:1

 

 

#Blogwords, Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, Sorrow’s End, Living the Lord’s Prayer, Death Comes as a Thief, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 91:1

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