We May Never Know the Answer
Picture it; It's 1955 and five men go deep into the jungles of Ecuador to witness to a tribe who attacked any outsiders that came near. Believing fully that God sent them there, having the eagerness and the confidence that they can earn the trust of the Waorani tribe. However, all five men were attacked and killed. Many years later the wife of one of the men wrote a book, "Through the Gates of Splendor" and eventually the tribe gave their heart to God.
So, why would God send those young men who had wives and children to a jungle where the chances of them being murdered was greater than staying in America? The book, "Through the Gates of Splendor" says there is no answer. Even 50 years later. Even in times of desparation and immense pain the families of these young men still witnessed to the Waorani tribe and believed that God had a plan.
How can this be God's plan? It's hard and sometimes impossible to comprehend but God can take any tragedy and turn it into something good. We have to stand on that promise. When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
Even if I never understand why my nephew died so young, I have to, HAVE TO, believe that something good is going to come from it. If I had no beliefs at all, if I never believed in God or anything of a higher power, how much more burdensome this would be? I can only imagine having to deal with this alone. And for those who are enduring an immense tragedy in their lives alone - just know you don't have to. Life is tough, but you are never alone.
Even if you are unsure about God, God is certain that he loves you and he knows and understands exactly, to the very tear welling up in your eyes, how you feel and the emptiness inside. If given the chance, He can and will prove to you how much you mean to Him.
I will end with this:
"It is not the level of our spirituality that we can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God's and the call is God's and everything is summoned by Him and to His purposes, the whole scene, the whole mess, the whole package - our bravery, and our cowardice, our love and our selfishness, our strengths and our weaknesses. The God who could take a murderer like Moses, and an adulterer like David and a traitor like Peter and make them strong servants of His, is a God who can also redeem savage Indians, using as the instruments of His peace a conglomeration of sinners who sometimes look like heroes and sometimes look like villians, for "we are no better than pots of earthenware to contain this treasure [the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Chris], and this proves that such transcendent power does not come from us, but is God's alone."
We are not always sure where the horizon is. We could not know which end is up were it not for the shimmering pathway of light falling on the white sea. The One who laid earth's foundations and settles its dimensions knows where the lines are drawn. He gives all the light we need for trust and obedience.
~From the book, "Through the Gates of Splendor"
So, why would God send those young men who had wives and children to a jungle where the chances of them being murdered was greater than staying in America? The book, "Through the Gates of Splendor" says there is no answer. Even 50 years later. Even in times of desparation and immense pain the families of these young men still witnessed to the Waorani tribe and believed that God had a plan.
How can this be God's plan? It's hard and sometimes impossible to comprehend but God can take any tragedy and turn it into something good. We have to stand on that promise. When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
Even if I never understand why my nephew died so young, I have to, HAVE TO, believe that something good is going to come from it. If I had no beliefs at all, if I never believed in God or anything of a higher power, how much more burdensome this would be? I can only imagine having to deal with this alone. And for those who are enduring an immense tragedy in their lives alone - just know you don't have to. Life is tough, but you are never alone.
Even if you are unsure about God, God is certain that he loves you and he knows and understands exactly, to the very tear welling up in your eyes, how you feel and the emptiness inside. If given the chance, He can and will prove to you how much you mean to Him.
I will end with this:
"It is not the level of our spirituality that we can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God's and the call is God's and everything is summoned by Him and to His purposes, the whole scene, the whole mess, the whole package - our bravery, and our cowardice, our love and our selfishness, our strengths and our weaknesses. The God who could take a murderer like Moses, and an adulterer like David and a traitor like Peter and make them strong servants of His, is a God who can also redeem savage Indians, using as the instruments of His peace a conglomeration of sinners who sometimes look like heroes and sometimes look like villians, for "we are no better than pots of earthenware to contain this treasure [the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Chris], and this proves that such transcendent power does not come from us, but is God's alone."
We are not always sure where the horizon is. We could not know which end is up were it not for the shimmering pathway of light falling on the white sea. The One who laid earth's foundations and settles its dimensions knows where the lines are drawn. He gives all the light we need for trust and obedience.
~From the book, "Through the Gates of Splendor"
Comments
Post a Comment