Friday, February 24, 2012

When I do not understand, He does: A Grief Observed

It seems as though we are always living in the present...In the back of our minds forever lurks the haunting prospect of death; those of loved ones and our own. For myself, I seemed always to view death in the future tense. Someday my father will die. Someday another loved one will die. Always "someday" was somewhere out there down the road.
Then last year, in February, my father stepped into eternity after what appeared to be a brief battle with Leukemia. Vicious, fast, and so final!
Now death has knocked on our family's door once again. This time it was vastly different. Almost a decade ago, my wife's step-father, the only father she has had for the last 20 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It really has been a "long good-bye." Dr. Stanley Renas was a brilliant man, a college professor who spoke eight languages. But slowly, the disease that first stole his mind, then his dignity, and finally his self-awareness won.
This past week he, like my father a year ago, quietly stepped into eternity. At his grave side as we overlooked his simple American flag draped pine box casket, the playing of "Taps" was hauntingly painful. For those of us who remain, we have a profound sense of loss, an emptiness in our hearts and souls. Practically, there is an empty chair at the kitchen table. We are left with memories, good memories, only memories.
We grieve for Stanley, we grieve for my mother in law, Bea. We grieve for our family and ourselves. For me and my family, we are grateful for the promise that "Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted." Our confidence and trust remain in Him.
In time, the pain of grief will subside, yet I know that somewhere, sometime down the road, like an old acquaintance, we will meet again. Nonetheless, I am not alone. My old friend, Jesus, was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." When I do not understand, He does. I take comfort in His promise that He will never leave me or forsake me.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Tragedies to Transitions: 4 Take-aways from David

I am constantly intrigued by the life of David. In the closing chapters of 1 Samuel, we find him working as a supposed mercenary for the Philistines. While away with his men from their home at  Ziklag, a raiding party of Amalekites attacks their home. The devestation includes: 1. the razing of Ziklag – it is burned to the ground (30:1), 2. the theft of all the possessions belonging to both David and his men; and 3. the kidnapping of their wives and children (30:2).
The collective response to the circumstances is predictable. Scripture tells us that the men wept until they could cry no longer. Out of bitterness, the men even talk of stoning David. So we find David grieving over his loss and threatened by his men. Scripture notes that he is in a “difficult position”. This is an understatement.
In contrast to those awful circumstances, “David,” Scripture tells us, “found strength in the Lord his God ” (30:6). Then, he asks the Lord, “what should I do?”
It appears that all is lost. Yet, when David prays, God responds. “Pursue the raiders.” In short, David’s men overtake the raiders, decimate their foes, capture  their spoils, and recover all of their kidnapped family members. The victory is great and complete. Grief turns to joy!
What appears to be a tragedy is actually a transition. God, in his timing is finally bringing to pass the hope and promise of David’s anointing by Samuel as a shepherd boy. With Saul’s death in battle, David returns to Israel where he finally becomes king.
Now, what can we learn from this incident in the life of David?
First, no devastating circumstance catches God by surprise. God is absolutely aware of the details. After, all, He is God!
Second, when crisis and uncertainty come, pray. David asks God to strengthen him and guide him. “Lord, what do I do next?” is his prayer. And God answers with clear and specific direction. “Pursue!” When we are in the midst of a crisis, we can be bitter, angry, and fearful, or we can pray and trust God to guide us.  Of course, this depends on our willingness to trust God that He actually is present and overseeing our lives. 
Third, when God gives direction, obey. David did as God directed and everything lost was regained with the exception of his home’s location. God is now literally taking him home to fulfill his destiny.
And fourth, what appears initially to be a tragedy, is actually a transition. It might have been difficult to leave the security of Ziklag so its destruction (in God’s permissive will) actually allows the transition back to Israel to progress more smoothly. There is nothing left in Ziklag to go home to.
I believe what happened to David has been replicated in the lives of countless believers including myself. What on first sight appears to be a tragedy is actually God’s means to effect a transition. When we get to the place God is taking us, we then look back and understand what God was doing to get us where He wants us to be.
Can you recall a time when what first looked like a tragedy ended up being a transition? Please share in the comments.

Blessings,
J.S.