I’ve had the privilege of meeting and getting to know many people in my 38 years. Lots more than some. But with the advantages of social media, I have had a bigger joy in getting to know people via Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram more than ever and with those I’d lost touch with over the years. I have heard stories about their kids, seen their kids learn to talk, walk and graduate high school. It has been pretty awesome, when I think about it. They comment on my kids and my goings-on and vice versa. We share stories, and in that, we share our lives together.
But today—via social media—I found out some very tragic news about a former co-worker’s child. I haven’t seen or talked (in person) to her in over 7 years. Yet, we “chat” and post and “giggle” via our FB posts all the time. I know from working with her that she lost her husband to a heart attack when her son was young. She is still single and her son was around 19 or 20. Yet, he lost his life Saturday night in an accident.
Many people might say: Wow, how could a loving God do that to her? How could this happen?
A natural, human reaction I suppose. But I think we should look at it from another perspective. C.S. Lewis was right: None of us are immune from the hard parts of life. But when the storms come, God walks to us on the very waters that so frighten us. His word promises us: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:10-11).
So how can we see Him in a time like this? As our suffering is for Christ’s sake, so is our contentment. I truly believe that no other attribute of a Christian so sings the gospel than that of contentment. We should see it as an incredible opportunity … to glorify God with all our hearts, through this difficult time. That others might see Him and be drawn to Him as a result of her response to His providential hand in her life. It is through this grace, this love, this mercy, God will grant her the ability to have the strength, courage and faith to trust and obey God’s great call to glorify Him through this time.
So instead we should say, “He has used me to show those that He is there.” Even when we don’t see it. He is glorified, sometimes through our deepest sadness. That is Why YOU.
“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn’.”-C.S. Lewis
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