For lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Song of Songs 2: 11, 12, NKJV.
These yellow crocus appeared in my garden yesterday. In this part of the country, crocus always signal the coming of spring. They erupt from the barren winter ground before any of their spring companions. I am certain God chose this weekend for my crocus to appear.
On Thursday, I shared about the anniversary of Mr W's death and new fears for my daughter's health. Many of you have been in prayer and blessed me with your words of love and encouragement. With joy and trembling, I can report my daughter's tests all came back benign. The irregular heart beats are a fluke. They are neither dangerous in themselves or indicative of other problems. Glory to God in the highest!
Today, I rejoice not in the good report (although I am eternally thankful), but rather in the knowledge we would have been alright with or without a good report. I am always uncomfortable when believers ascribe positive outcomes to their faith. Does that mean that those who did not have a positive outcome did not have enough faith? Such a belief would mock the very Word of God. It is blasphemous ground I don't care to traverse.
Instead, we rest in the sovereignty of God and the power of His love, even when we do not understand. As a wise elder once said to me, "I don't know what's good for me, so I just thank God for everything." Today, I thank Him for the unseen purpose of Mr W's early demise and the gift of a teenager left to resume shopping for just-the-right-dress for prom. I also thank Him for the beautiful friends who rushed to my cyber-side in my hour of need.
May you feel His grace today,
Gail W.
The last Word:
I delight to sit in His shade, and His fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner over me is love.
Song of Songs 2: 3b-4, NIV.
14 comments:
O dearest Gail, this post is so beautiful. I can relate to everything you wrote. Yes, like you, I am okay even when things are not happening according to my liking. And like you I thank God for the "unseen purpose" of my own dear husband's demise. The passage you quoted is the very passage that God spoke to me at the beginning of this year.
I do thank God for the good report about your daughter's medical tests.
I believe it was just His way of calling your attention and bringing you even closer to Himself.
I love the photo you took of the crocus flowers!
Dear Gail,
I am so GLAD to hear your news. Both of you (and all of those whom love and care about your family)have been in my thoughts and prayers. You have an amazing faith in an amazing God and I thank you for being so willing to share it with those of us in "cyberspace" who care about you.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!
Love to you!
We never know why God works things out the way He does sometimes... But we know it is for our good.... God is an azazing God! Beautiful post!
In a thousand ways, I've been out of the loop on this entire week of your life. I am so sorry for not being more alert. Wow...talk about the raining provision of God. Thanks, Gail, for sharing a huge part of your heart with us in these last few posts. It's a good reminder to me that we all come to the "table" with our different stories...different brokenness, and for most of us, the awesome healing of God over it all.
I had a class of young marrieds this morning at church. Many harbor different fears about their future, the future of their children, the future of their everything. At one point, the conversation turned to the "goodness" of God and how if we just had faith enough when we prayed, all will turn out accordingly. I listened intently and with all the care of heaven and then gently asked them to consider the "goodness" of God in a bigger way.
What happens when our prayers aren't answered the way that we asked them? Does that mean he's not good...does it mean that you're not...that if you'd just prayed harder, been a better Christian, well, things might have gone differently?
A great discussion, and one that harkens back to much of what you've written about this week.
I'll be speaking this weekend to a group of woman about becoming "a living stone from brokenness." I've just finished making a 3 foot mosaic cross filled with broken stones. I don't know where God will take this, but as a woman who's known something of rubble and broken stones, I yield them all for his glory, friend. I sense that you are doing the same.
May God be close to you in your week, as you make another transition to another way of doing this life thing. I love you all the more for sharing your heart and will be thinking about you especially as I walk my week from the bench, cheering you all the while as you take to the court, friend. Email me anytime you need to.
peace, always peace~elaine
Praise God for answered prayer. I am beyond happy to hear this great news about your daughter. Thank You precious Lord. I love you my friend.
So happy to read that.The Lord tests our faith He does.
It's so good to be able to let those burdens go. I don't think it's having enough faith or not that gives us what we want. Some people need to be tested and refined through trials to become the people God wants them to be. Some people end up being tested more than onthers, but we are only given what we are strong enough to endure.
Thank you, Gail, for the update. I rejoice with you at the good report, and rejoice with you in your faith...no matter what! Our God does know all that is good for us, and sees through His heart that is beyond our understanding.
I also rejoice with you over the crocus! I wish I had some in my yard to pop up! I always did as a child, and miss them. My heart sang when I saw your photo!
Dear Gail,
I am praying for you this week. Accept my apology for not stopping by sooner. Praising God in the good times is easy. Doing so in the bad times is certainly a true test of faith. I am so inspired by your strength and proclamation of Job 19:25. Although I'm sure your heart still aches.
Praise God your daughter's test came back OK.
I wish I could be as eloquent as Elaine, but know I'm praying for you and lifting you up tonight.
BLessings,
Kelli
Beautiful post, Momito. I love the crocus; I think things are looking up.
Amen! What you wrote here is so important and true.
"Today, I rejoice not in the good report (although I am eternally thankful), but rather in the knowledge we would have been alright with or without a good report. I am always uncomfortable when believers ascribe positive outcomes to their faith. Does that mean that those who did not have a positive outcome did not have enough faith? Such a belief would mock the very Word of God. It is blasphemous ground I don't care to traverse."
It happens too often that people ascribe to God what belongs to the devil.
Gail,
I have caught up with your week, as I have fallen behind, as I frequently do. This was an awesome post and the comments were a blessing to read as well.
I remember visiting a church for awhile, and volunteering to help a woman, who was wheel chair bound because of MS an hour a week. The pastor's wife wanted the volunteers to pray with her and do Bible studies so her faith would increase enough to be healed of the MS. I thought that was off.
Anyway, I am glad your daughter got a good report, and want to send my condolences on the anniversary of loss of your husband.
I still love your use of Scripture in your posts, and that crocus is lovely!
Blessings,
Sue
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