The sad reality of losing a pet reminds me of larger griefs: house fires, funeral services, life-changing news delivered in ER waiting rooms.There are so many unexpected twists to life. We think one thing, and our worst nightmare happens. Shell-shocked, disappointment molds God must not care.
God was silent the day before Easter. Jesus had died. Grief consumed His followers enough to make them forget His promise of resurrection. We relate to this chasm of hopelessness, this voided expectation. Grief can blind us. When God is silent, we tend to assume. We question His sovereignty. Jesus himself cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?” (Matt 28:46)
But did God really not ‘come through’?
If He had rescued Jesus from the cross, we would not inherit eternal salvation. Life circulates back to the test of trust. It is the collision of faith and reality, when what I see does not align with what I believe. There will be times your reality does not match what you are believing for with spiritual eyes. There will be times you pray, picture, and praise God in advance for a miraculous healing before you see it. It's called trust for a reason. It is when three men were thrown into flames after praying that God would rescue them. It’s watching a man tie his only son to an alter to be sacrificed. It’s when another man is thrown in a pit of beasts after doing the right thing.
But faith isn't blind in the sense of we have nothing to bank it on. God has a track record, and his perspective outweighs our perception.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
Saturday marks the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection. People did not know this back then. They saw it as the day after the death. The moment after the funeral service. It’s the period of I thought, and I can’t believe. It is denial mixed with distress. On the 'Silent Saturday' before Easter, Satan thought he won. He thought he defeated the one and only hope for our ultimate salvation. He thought.
But Sunday was coming. And a ‘Sunday’ is on its way for you, too. Your ‘Saturday’ season is not pointless. Your pain has a purpose. Do not place your limited understanding over God’s ultimate wisdom. There is a plan beyond what we can see, beyond our natural way of thinking. The length of your dry season is measured. It will not last forever. It may not be until the day Jesus returns, but God always promises victory.
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“Must God tailor his justice to your commands?” (Job 35:33)
“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10)
“But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.” Job 35:13
“For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.” Psalm 69:33
“I will wait quietly before the God,” Psalm 62:1
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fail, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 38:24
“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
“And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.” Psalm 77:11-12
P.S. After a series of events following Leonardo's death, God provided a precious cookies and cream colored puppy who would become my lifelong companion!
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