"The Uncertainties of Life"

  "Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. When clouds are heavy, the rain comes down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

 "Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another - or maybe both." (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 NLT) 

  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:6-11 KJV)

 Just so you know, I spent quite a while yesterday thinking about something I said, involving the ways we might feel disappointment with something which might happen in our lives; whether to us or to a loved one; and to whether or not that disappointment is somehow a form of doubting God? Can we have any form of disappointment in a matter, and still trust God has everything under control? 

 I thought about certain examples of what that might actually look like: Abraham's challenge to sacrifice his son; David's fasting and prayers for the dying son of Bathsheba; and Jesus' reaction to Peter's third denial of knowing Jesus. Each and every one of them expressed some sort of disappointment in the process of what was going on; but they all still believed that the matter would be handled, in one way or another. 

 We seriously have no control over the uncertainties of this life; when bad things happen, we might mourn and weep, feeling the disappointment in what has happened: but in one way or another, God will make everything work towards the good, through every single travesty or situation! Does that mean we don't need to mourn or feel disappointment in the process of the way things look? 

 My heart broke the night my wife was brought out of surgery, after being in there for over 8 hours. She looked as if she was on ice and had tubes in her everywhere. They told me I needed to go home or else I would need to be hospitalized also. But when I got home, I could do nothing but breakdown and weep; weeping so hard, I could hardly catch my breath. 

 All that I could say, is "Why!" It might sound strange, but after almost an hour or so, I saw a vision of Jesus hanging on the cross; and all of the sudden I felt a peace. It didn't really cure my disappointment in what had happened, but it gave me peace, as if there was this tragedy that has taken place, but things can only get better; they surely couldn't have gotten any worse! 

 When Jesus died on the cross, each and every one of His disciples were so disappointed in the outcome that had taken place; most of them couldn't believe that it actually happened, as if it was just a dream, and maybe it would soon be over. And this disappointment was foretold to them, several times: at one point Jesus even told them that they would be undone and greatly saddened; but that they would be filled with joy after He had risen again! 

 So, yes, I feel that there is always a good reason to have disappointment in the process; but we must always have hope in the end...

"Then Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:31-35 KJV)