Miscarriage Support Group
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January 10, 2013
Disappointment with God - Part 2
Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Friend to Friend
As you live and move and have your being in Christ, at some point, difficult days will come. We live in a fallen world, and suffering is simply a part of it. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble," (John 16:33). It's a sure thing.
When we experience shattered dreams, broken relationships, tragic losses, or unfulfilled longings, it can be difficult to feel God's presence, to see His hand, and to hear His voice. Glory moments cease when we close our eyes in pain and tune God out in anger. That doesn't mean that God is not there. It only means that the sadness in our own hearts has drawn the shades and locked the doors. We question whether or not we even want to live in union with God if this is where the path leads. We tend to wriggle out of His arms like an angry child or slip out of His embrace like a disgruntled lover, all the while hoping He will pull us back in and tell us that we have simply misunderstood.
Men and women throughout the Bible voiced their disappointment when God didn't act as they had hoped. David cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" (Psalm 22:1). Habakkuk cried out: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Habakkuk1:2). Even Jesus, when he hung on that cruel Roman cross, did not call out the comforting words of the Twenty-third Psalm, but the agonizing words of the Twenty-second.
Philip Yancey, in his book, Disappointment with God says, "The words of the prophets sound like the words of a lovers' quarrel drifting through thin apartment walls." I've read the words. I've heard the words. I've said the words.
And while we complain of God's silence or seeming indifference during difficult times, He is always there working behind the scenes in ways we may never understand.
In the Bible, we catch glimpses of God's veiled activity among men. Daniel prayed for three weeks while God appeared to be silent. Finally an angel showed up and explained his delaya demon, the prince of the Persian kingdom, fought with him and held him back for twenty-one days (Daniel 10).
In another incident, the prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by Aramean enemies. Elisha's servant was terrified and thought they were surely doomed. Elisha very calmly reassured him: "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then he asked God to lift the curtain of the spiritual realm and reveal the truth of the situation. "Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:15-18). Talk about sudden glory!
Three months after the loss of my second child, I broke my silence with God and prayed a prayer similar to Elisha's. "Oh God, please open my eyes to see Your glory in this situation. If I could just see her. Please Lord, give me a glimpse.
And then God pulled back the curtain in my mind and I envisioned this child, healthy and whole and playing at the feet of Jesus. She was surrounded by God's glory face-to-face. Radiant resplendent glory. Not an ounce of glory ache to be seen.
Glory moments do not require a physical vision, but a spiritual revelationan understanding of a greater reality than this physical world in which we live. The unseen world is very real, and while we may not see God's activity with our physical eyes, we can be assured of His provision and protection in ways we may never understand. When He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you," He meant it.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen (our circumstances), but on what is unseen (God's presence). For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18, parentheses mine). One day, it will all make sense. Until thenwe trust. And when we have the faith to keep our eyes open during the dark times, God will scatter moments of sudden glory like stars in the inky sky. We hold fast and continue practicing Acts 17:28even when we aren't sure where that may lead.
Let's Pray
Lord, sometimes I just don't get it, but that's OK. I don't have to "get it." I don't have to understand. But I trust You. I know Your ways are higher than my ways. So I unfurl my fingers and release the tight grip I have on my circumstances. I give them to You. I am looking for moments of sudden gloryYour presencein the confusing circumstances of my life.
In Jesus' Name, amen.
Disappointment with God - Part 2
Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Friend to Friend
As you live and move and have your being in Christ, at some point, difficult days will come. We live in a fallen world, and suffering is simply a part of it. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble," (John 16:33). It's a sure thing.
When we experience shattered dreams, broken relationships, tragic losses, or unfulfilled longings, it can be difficult to feel God's presence, to see His hand, and to hear His voice. Glory moments cease when we close our eyes in pain and tune God out in anger. That doesn't mean that God is not there. It only means that the sadness in our own hearts has drawn the shades and locked the doors. We question whether or not we even want to live in union with God if this is where the path leads. We tend to wriggle out of His arms like an angry child or slip out of His embrace like a disgruntled lover, all the while hoping He will pull us back in and tell us that we have simply misunderstood.
Men and women throughout the Bible voiced their disappointment when God didn't act as they had hoped. David cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" (Psalm 22:1). Habakkuk cried out: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Habakkuk1:2). Even Jesus, when he hung on that cruel Roman cross, did not call out the comforting words of the Twenty-third Psalm, but the agonizing words of the Twenty-second.
Philip Yancey, in his book, Disappointment with God says, "The words of the prophets sound like the words of a lovers' quarrel drifting through thin apartment walls." I've read the words. I've heard the words. I've said the words.
And while we complain of God's silence or seeming indifference during difficult times, He is always there working behind the scenes in ways we may never understand.
In the Bible, we catch glimpses of God's veiled activity among men. Daniel prayed for three weeks while God appeared to be silent. Finally an angel showed up and explained his delaya demon, the prince of the Persian kingdom, fought with him and held him back for twenty-one days (Daniel 10).
In another incident, the prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by Aramean enemies. Elisha's servant was terrified and thought they were surely doomed. Elisha very calmly reassured him: "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then he asked God to lift the curtain of the spiritual realm and reveal the truth of the situation. "Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:15-18). Talk about sudden glory!
Three months after the loss of my second child, I broke my silence with God and prayed a prayer similar to Elisha's. "Oh God, please open my eyes to see Your glory in this situation. If I could just see her. Please Lord, give me a glimpse.
And then God pulled back the curtain in my mind and I envisioned this child, healthy and whole and playing at the feet of Jesus. She was surrounded by God's glory face-to-face. Radiant resplendent glory. Not an ounce of glory ache to be seen.
Glory moments do not require a physical vision, but a spiritual revelationan understanding of a greater reality than this physical world in which we live. The unseen world is very real, and while we may not see God's activity with our physical eyes, we can be assured of His provision and protection in ways we may never understand. When He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you," He meant it.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen (our circumstances), but on what is unseen (God's presence). For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18, parentheses mine). One day, it will all make sense. Until thenwe trust. And when we have the faith to keep our eyes open during the dark times, God will scatter moments of sudden glory like stars in the inky sky. We hold fast and continue practicing Acts 17:28even when we aren't sure where that may lead.
Let's Pray
Lord, sometimes I just don't get it, but that's OK. I don't have to "get it." I don't have to understand. But I trust You. I know Your ways are higher than my ways. So I unfurl my fingers and release the tight grip I have on my circumstances. I give them to You. I am looking for moments of sudden gloryYour presencein the confusing circumstances of my life.
In Jesus' Name, amen.
mrsbank329
Sorry. Did not make me feel better...
brightstar12
Beautiful and of gret help
deleted_user
I too was angry and full of question. It took me a few months before I was all cried out and turned to Jesus for comfort. I know what it means to see or invision my child playing with Jesus. He picks the most beautiful flowers for his gardens and our babies were them. Thanks. I did understand your message.
deleted_user
This is beautiful, comforting and well-written. I can understand why it would not make an "unbeliever" feel better, because they have never experienced the peace and joy that comes with knowing Christ. This did bring me comfort, as I believe it would any believer in Jesus! Thanks!
deleted_user
thank you for this. this is exactly what I needed to read this morning. I am 16 and I misscarried 3 months ago after rape. trusting in what is "Unseen" has been very difficult throughout these last few months, but you writing was just the pick-up i needed.
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