I’ve been pondering. Have I already survived the worst I’ll ever have to face; and/or, is it possible to choose to live as if the worst is now in the past?
This is a fallen world; no doubt about it. Bad things have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen.
Someone told me last week that the hardest thing she learned, following her first husband’s early death in a freak-accident, was that it didn’t make her immune from other bad things happening.
If there’s an upside to being blindsided, it has been experiencing firsthand that, while grief is undeniably awful; God is always with me and always takes care of me. Always.
Sometimes bad things happen as a result of my bad choices, but sometimes they don’t. And then sometimes, bad things happen even when I’ve made good choices. Those times are harder to sort through.
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,
“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
So they took Jesus in the boat and started out,
leaving the crowds behind
(although other boats followed).
But soon a fierce storm came up.
High waves were breaking into the boat,
and it began to fill with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat
with his head on a cushion.
The disciples woke him up, shouting,
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
When Jesus woke up,
he rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
“Silence! Be still!”
Suddenly the wind stopped,
and there was a great calm.
Then he asked them,
“Why are you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:35-40
If the fierce storm had roared in to punish them for some defiant disobedience, it would seem fairer; but they were right where they were supposed to be and doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do.
Jesus response: “Do you still have no faith” makes me think he’s comparing two different times: life before they knew him and life after. He was God immortal in their midst—doing miracles right and left—a defining pivotal point in their lives. He. Was. The. Point. And the worst they could ever face—the life when they didn’t know him—was behind them.
Praise be to God, I know the very same Jesus.
I have told you all this
so that you may have peace in me.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart,
because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Sometimes terrible things happen in our lives and it is devastating and I don’t know why, but God works good from all things. My youngest son developed a serious illness at the age of 24 that has changed his life and mine forever. I do know I have a stronger relationship with the Lord because of this. I don’t think God caused it to happen but good has come from it, but I sure wish my son didn’t have this illness. I pray for his healing everyday. So my son developed a life threatening illness and my parents died within 9 days of each other shortly after. So things can get worse and that’s where our faith keeps us going. I know we as Christians are sojourners on this earth and one day Jesus will make all things new and right. I’m doing the best I can. I pray the worst thing that can happen to you in this earthly life has happened. I pray that for me too!!!