"Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your
hearts, and always be thankful." (Col 3:15 --NLT)
Thanksgiving; a special time of special memories -
- and of thanking God for the many blessings He
brings into our lives.
Sometimes that's hard to do, especially when
life's challenges seem to toss us up and down like
fierce winds churning the waves in an angry storm.
Periled by surface emotions we forget that in the
depths of God's love there is a peaceful stillness, far
below the threatening surface. It's much like the quiet
stillness in the depths of the ocean that mariners refer
to as, 'the cushion of the sea', quietly calming and
assuring us that God's grace is sufficient - that as we
continue onward, abiding in Him, all will be quite
OK.
Lately I've been studying the book of Job in hopes
of learning a little more about the 'whys?' and
'how to handles?' of life's many challenges and
their often hard to understand difficulties. In the
book's first several verses I find God's honorable
reasons for Job's unimaginable sufferings, and, in
the last few verses, the victorious God--purposed
outcome.
I can't help but think, however, that, no matter how
honorable the reasons, if God would have informed
Job right after he got out of bed the day his world
crashed and burned just how that day and the days
ahead would progress, he would have immediately
fallen on his face and begged God to not let it happen,
at least not that way.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of
the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew
calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let
them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men." (Ps 107: 29-31 -
NIV)
Job must have rejoiced when it was over as it was
all behind him and, perhaps even more so, for the
many blessings God lavished on him.
Bible scholars say that Job was 70 years old
when he experienced those trials, and that he lived
another 140 years afterwards. Try to imagine how
many lives must have been touched and encouraged
by Job's life as he shared his story over and over
through those years, and even though he's now in
heaven, his story continues to be related through
God's Word.
I've concluded that the reason God often does not
reveal all that's ahead in fulfilling his will through the
lives of His children is because if He did, we probably
wouldn't
even want to begin, let alone think that we could
complete the journey if we did.
Many times over the past several years I have felt
the reality of that very type of thinking, but always, and
thank God very quickly, I've remembered the vision that
He imparted to me as a young boy of 14, and I refocus
on the tasks at hand, how victory can only be realized
as we continue the journey, and proceed onward.
Yes, in the journey of accomplishing God's
purpose for our lives we do have our challenges
that are often very difficult and seem to get tougher
when we're, 'almost there'. But our perseverance in
sticking to it and getting through it, no matter what the
cost, will be worth it, for I just can't think of anything
greater for which to be thankful than at our journey's
end, to hear our loving Heavenly Father say, "Well
done."
Luke 1:37
"Well done, good and faithful servant; you have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matt
25: 23 --NKJV)
