It’s been an unusual summer for our family – one daughter moving back home after graduation, another getting ready to leave for college and the third working at a camp in Alabama. Then we tossed into the mix two more recent college graduates creating a very full house (I’ve suggested putting Greek letters over the front door and creating a sorority). One of the impacts has been less time for reflection and blogging – but summer is nearing a close and I am writing again.
It’s also been a summer in which is seems that the lives of so many of our closest friends (all across the country) are in turmoil. Words such as cancer, death, adultery, affair, unemployment, addiction, rape, drugs and depression have been a part of far too many conversations. God continues to write stories of restoration and redemption but it seems as if too many of the people we love are in seasons of too many wounds.
Many of those wounds are leaving scars.
And I’m reminded that God has scars.
After His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to His disciples
He showed them His hands and feet
Luke 20: 40
In John’s revelation of heaven he describes the Lamb as:
looking as if it had been slain…
Revelation 5: 6
Our God has scars.
I can engage in theological debate on the persistence of evil. I can find encouragement in the promise of a future glory that far surpasses our present suffering. I can even understand how trials develop perseverance that leads to completeness. I don’t have a lot of easy answers for cancer, death, adultery, affairs, unemployment, addiction, rape, drugs, depression, wounds and scars.
But I know that our God has scars too – and for today, that’s more than enough.
Thank you. Much needed. Gratefully, the words of cancer, death, adultery, affairs, unemployment, addiction, rape, drugs and depression are not part of what we are dealing with, but it is a good reminder that no matter what we are dealing with, God knows, He heals and has gone before us and has the scars to prove that we are not alone.
ReplyDeleteDearest Doug and friends - Suffering and disease are the work of the enemy. Soon our suffering will end, never to be seen or experienced again. My cancer taught me that God is faithful. He gave me supernatural strength, and also delivered me from death. Even in the shadow of death He is always there and if sin did place a dark shadow over our lives on this earth, He always prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies (sickness is one enemy) and no matter what we will be comforted and made able to bear it. He will bear us up on Angel's Wings - just like the martyrs were able to sing while being burned at the stake. I hate the suffering in this world, especially watching my son live so bravely and sweetly while bearing his disabilities, but in that day "the last will be first" and I can't wait to see his Crown(s). I have reached my one year milestone - free of cancer and every step has been a miracle and made me able to face death should it come, but I feel I have much left to do to keep my vows until my last breath to serve Him. The day my Mother died she told me "OH! It has been a BEAUTIFUL DAY!" God is so gracious.
ReplyDeleteAs much trouble and turmoil as our lives have, we forget that those who came before us had more trouble, more disease, more turmoil and perhaps more faith. I pray that God will strengthen our faith and give us the courage and strength to cope with the trouble and turmoil of our age and in our lives. I pray that he will frequently remind us of the perfection of the life to come and the freedom from pain, turmoil, and strife.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen your blog before, but this came at a good time. It seems that in the midst of all the turmoil, I've tried so hard to remember that God is there and also not to feel sorry for myself. Thank you so much for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteThank you
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