When you look back and see that God was ahead of you!
It was 6 am Monday morning, May 20, 2019. Steve and I were quietly sitting at the kitchen table, candle lit, Bibles opened. We each read different passages so we are together, but not reading out loud. It is peacefully silent, apart from the burning wick. It's been a gift to sit by this man and meet with Jesus side by side in the quiet of the mornings.
On this particular morning, 3 weeks ago, Steve's sister called us at 6 am. We both knew before he answered. Steve's mom had gone ahead of us to be with Jesus. By God's grace, she went quietly in her sleep in her own bed. I had prayed for her peaceful release from earth, but honestly, I did not have full faith when I prayed for that. It could not have been more peaceful.
We were instantly in planning mode. We had had our bags packed for 3 months because of many last minute medical trips. But ironically, we were not packed that morning. For all the planning, you are never really ready - and that's OK. There are always things that you cannot do until you're in the moment.
We packed our bags and drove separately 7 hours north so we could be with his sister as soon as possible. I left 3 hours after Steve because I had to wrap up a few things. There were lots of prayers, tears, and fears in our separate cars, and the ones to follow later that week when our kids drove up to link arms with us.
But, here's the thing! We had always feared and wondered how this day would play out, scenario after scenario. Finally, giving it all to God, we just let go. When you're not in control, it's not only OK, it's better, because God is in control.
Looking back on that morning, we have 2 big things that stand out!
First, and most important! Later on that Monday evening, Steve shared with his sister and me that right before the phone rang that morning at 6 am, he had been reading 1 Corinthians 15:54b-58. Look below and be amazed!
"“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
NOT. A. COINCIDENCE.
The chances of landing on that particular passage right before the phone rang are very slim. Unless you stop to realize we have a BIG GOD. How precious to look back and see that God was preparing Steve's heart for that next moment.
I must add, this passage is true and beautiful. But the truth is that losing someone is incredibly painful. Even Jesus wept when He met up with Mary (the brother of Lazarus) and Martha after Lazarus had died. John 11:32-35,
"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept."
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”"
Jesus went on to show His power by raising Lazarus from the dead that very day. But the truth of these passages is that there is a beautiful HOPE beyond earthly death for the believer. Knowing that our future is secure with Jesus in heaven is a beautiful gift for the living. It's also a beautiful gift for us to know that this is true for our loves ones as well.
But while on this earth, we will hurt, even though we have hope. I thank Jesus for this story of His weeping compassion. Because, loss really hurts. To know He weeps with us is affirmation of our pain, as well as affirmation of His compassion. It changes everything.
He Knows. He sees. He cares.
Second, proof of God's faithfulness especially in the mundane. I had a big work project with a deadline that following week. I rarely go in on the weekends, but I decided to get a jump on the project while it was quiet. I was surprised that I completed the project before I left work Sunday afternoon. Had I not finished that project, I would not have been free to join Steve and his sister until later in the week. Again, how precious to look back and see that God was clearing my work schedule for the next week.
I'll stop there, but there were many blessings that followed us that week that were totally God things! So, just wanting to share today an example of how our God is so good in the good and the bad times. We have many stressful unknowns ahead, but we know God is ahead of us! And we are sad, all of us, children, grandchildren, and friends. This post does is not meant to minimize anyone's pain. It is to acknowledge it with a little balm of truth to give hope.
There. Are. Treasures. In. The. Dark.
These moments in our life when we look back and see that God was ahead are moments that create unshakable faith. They build over a lifetime and breath hope from the mouth of God through our lips to others.
In our family, we collect these moments in a journal, and we have a hurricane candle holder where we put in a stone for every moment like this. As the number of stones increase, we see a picture of God's faithfulness to us.
This is just what Joshua did in the Old Testament to show where God had parted the sea. God wanted truth to live on in the hearts of His children. These are called Ebenezer stones, stories of God's faithfulness for generations to come (see passage below the stone photo).
The most amazing part is that Jesus is the CORNERSTONE! He makes the foundation of all our stories and stones of remembrance firm and true! We can rely on Him and Him alone! Isaiah 28:16 prophecies of this,
"So this is what the Lord GOD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken."
And 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
And, 1 Peter 2:6, "For it stands in Scripture: "See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame."
(For more stories of God's faithfulness, click on the website, jeasmus.blogspot.com, and enter your email address in the box at the left. I would love to hear your stories. Leave a comment so others can hear, or email me privately if you would like. This is doing life together.)
Joshua chapter 4, "Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood."
Only A Holy God, CityAlight
Living Hope, Phil Wickham
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