Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today, a lot of people around the world are wondering what the future holds. They find it impossible to see how things can ever be alright again. Particularly those who were in Boston… the injured and maimed… the participants and spectators… and those who lost loved ones must be asking, “What possible meaning can be given to this experience?” Federal agents, detectives, and experts in terrorism and explosives search for evidence… proof of what type of bomb was detonated, possible DNA from the bomber, and more. Unless and until they have more to go on, they cannot fully explain this situation - much less identify those responsible.
So we are left to wait and wonder. There is the possibility we might never fully know what happened – or how. The identity of the bomber(s) might never be discovered. If this is the case, we will be left feeling unsettled and uncertain. We are a “show me” people… we want proof. We want God to give us a “sign” of the validity of His miracles and promises. We want people to prove their loyalty, respect, and honesty. We want our significant others, family members and friends to demonstrate their love and care for us with undeniable words and gestures. We do not operate well in the abstract.
As a result, many of us find it hard to trust God – and lack of proof becomes our excuse. A whole lot of people will say, “Well, God allowed this horrific tragedy to occur in Boston. How can we serve a God who would do such a thing?!” Many will fail to recognize His hand in this situation… how emergency personnel were already in place to rush to the scene and begin offering first aid and assistance… how a runner had just shifted from one side of the street to the other to greet her family as they watched her finish – and in doing so, she ran right out of the path of the blast… how a runner from Arkansas who had finished the race “happened” to have a friend in nearby New Hampshire who said, “Get a cab, leave the city, and come here!” He and a fellow runner friend collected family members and did exactly that. These are only a few of what will be hundreds of examples of how God worked in and through this situation to bring about positive outcomes.
In all kinds of situations, we could readily excuse our skepticism… we could easily say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But Christians are called to trust God for the unseen… to operate with full confidence that God takes care of His children. He knows our needs even before we do… and He has always been on the scene… orchestrating things perfectly. We can trust God to make some sense of even a tragedy like the bombing in Boston… to create opportunities for us to glorify Him… to show us how He is always at work…and to give us hope that we can move forward with anticipation for a brighter tomorrow.
The odds are pretty good that you woke up healthy, safe, and comfortable this morning. On any given day, this could change. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. But we are promised God’s love and care, if only we will trust Him. We must stop using the “show me” excuse and fully accept that God keeps His promises… makes perfect plans… and never stops caring for us. What unseen outcomes will you believe for today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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