A woman I know – a daughter of the King
of the universe – is teaching me a valuable lesson in faith. She’s
nearly 90, living in relative comfort both financially and physically,
and surrounded by family who love her.
But.
Sometimes ‘Buts’ are good things. For example, when God says it here:
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins . . . and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us . . . made us alive together with Christ." (Ephesians 2:1-4)
Or here: "For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)
But when we say ‘But’, well – it’s often not a good thing.
This woman, a child of the King, lives in a state of continuous fear, not about tomorrow – which has enough trouble of its own – but she wrings her hands about what might happen next year. And in three years. And in five years.
I’ve talked with her on numerous occasions about faith and hope and confidence in the God of tomorrow. Yet her fear of the unknowable future continues unabated to consume her.
That is why this elderly child of God is teaching me a lot about faith – and the lack of faith – in our Father who, it must be reiterated, is the omnipotent and omniscient King and supreme ruler of the universe – and of everything in it.
It is this same King who also says to me, “Richard, why do you worry about what you will eat, or what you will drink, or what you will wear? Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But (there is that word again) – seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.”
Oh, Lord, help us all to seek you above all else, and to trust you not just for tomorrow, but for next year, for three years, for five years – for all the years left to us.
Amen
But.
Sometimes ‘Buts’ are good things. For example, when God says it here:
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins . . . and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us . . . made us alive together with Christ." (Ephesians 2:1-4)
Or here: "For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)
But when we say ‘But’, well – it’s often not a good thing.
This woman, a child of the King, lives in a state of continuous fear, not about tomorrow – which has enough trouble of its own – but she wrings her hands about what might happen next year. And in three years. And in five years.
I’ve talked with her on numerous occasions about faith and hope and confidence in the God of tomorrow. Yet her fear of the unknowable future continues unabated to consume her.
That is why this elderly child of God is teaching me a lot about faith – and the lack of faith – in our Father who, it must be reiterated, is the omnipotent and omniscient King and supreme ruler of the universe – and of everything in it.
It is this same King who also says to me, “Richard, why do you worry about what you will eat, or what you will drink, or what you will wear? Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But (there is that word again) – seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.”
Oh, Lord, help us all to seek you above all else, and to trust you not just for tomorrow, but for next year, for three years, for five years – for all the years left to us.
Amen
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