by Linda Veath
One day while enjoying my walk in the beautiful fall weather, I couldn’t help but think about all the turmoil in our world. When will it be lifted from our shoulders, I wondered. The virus. The fires. The hurricanes. I found out later that, just as I was praying, a 7.0 earthquake had struck Greece and Turkey, lands the Apostle Paul had once traveled.
I must admit, I am tired of all the disasters. I’m sure those who are directly experiencing them are even more tired… And afraid. You’re no doubt tired too. We’d all like to escape if we could.
But God put us here, right at this time and in this place, to do our work for Him. We may not completely understand what that work is until our lives on earth are gone. But we can do our best to join God in His work, even as we ask why, while remembering that we are in good company with our question.
Moses asked. WHY, Lord, did you bring trouble on this people?
Gideon cried. WHY, Lord, did all this happen to us?
David prayed. WHY, Lord, has this all happened to me?
Jesus cried to His Father. My God, My God, WHY have You forsaken me?
Every man and women from Creation until now has cried why, but we can look back and remember how God has answered our WHYs of the past. Some answers we already know. Others we are still waiting for. But, in the end, God will answer them, because He loves us, He created us, and in Christ are hidden all the mysteries of wisdom and knowledge.
We know He works all things according to the ultimate purposes of His counsel. Even when we do not understand, we can trust. And when we trust, joy breaks through the clouds, like rays of sunshine.
When we are faced with the unknown, we must keep doing what we know to do… loving others, worshipping God, knowing and living out His love. And remembering the thousands of people who have lived before us—and are yet to come—who have asked WHY.
Today is All Saints Day. May I suggest that you look up the words to “For All The Saints” and rest assured that we will one day be together with God’s Glorious Son, Jesus!
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ~ 1 Cor. 13:12 NIV