As fireworks were going off last week, my littlest
grand-daughter was born. Olivia is a
beautiful alert little baby born with a growth on her gum. That growth led to her being flown to
Children's Hospital in Dallas where they discovered a congenital heart
defect. I saw God's hand at work as I
realized that, but for the growth, the heart condition would not have been
diagnosed in a timely manner.
I consider myself very blessed that my son and
daughter-in-law allowed me to stay in Dallas with them and take turns at
Olivia's bedside, holding her and feeding her.
As I talked to her, sang hymns to her and prayed over her, many thoughts
came to my mind as well as many Scriptures.
It afforded me great peace to know that this little one and her health
rest in someone's hands far greater than even the terrific doctors caring for
her. God brought her through the gum
surgery. We are praying that she will be
kept free from illness in the next few months until she faces open heart
surgery in September or October.
Olivia's life is a weaving being formed by the Almighty
God. Until it is complete we will see
the dark threads as well as the gold without knowing what they form. When the Master Weaver is finished and the
weaving is complete, only then, will we see the beauty of the whole and understand
how the dark threads were as important as the gold.
The week before Olivia was born I bought several copies
of a booklet, Behind a Frowning
Providence, by John Murray for each of my children. I bought them because it was such a blessing
to me in thinking of my cancer, but am grateful that I read it before the
complications of Olivia's birth. I share
some quotes from that booklet.
.
Providence is that marvelous
working of God by which all the events and happenings in his universe
accomplish the purpose he has in mind.
Providence is the
outworking of the will of God in my life.
One of the reasons
God did not answer Job's cries for justice was because he wanted to continue
his relationship with Job on the basis of grace. God didn't want Job to have 'commercial
faith' based on a celestial contract. He
wanted Job to have faith in a God with such richness of character - love, mercy, grace, goodness, kindness - that
nothing could interfere with their relationship. Because the key question is not 'Why do the
righteous suffer?' but "Do we worship a God who is worthy of our
suffering?' (Wiersbe)
From a favorite hymn of mine by William Cowper come these
words:
God moves in a
mysterious way
His wonders to
perform;
He plants His
footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the
storm.
Deep in
unfathomable mines
Of never failing
skill
He treasures up His
bright designs
And works His
sov’reign will.
Ye fearful saints,
fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so
much dread
Are big with mercy
and shall break
In blessings on
your head.
Judge not the Lord
by feeble sense,
But trust Him for
His grace;
Behind a frowning
providence
He hides a smiling
face.
His purposes will
ripen fast,
Unfolding every
hour;
The bud may have a
bitter taste,
But sweet will be
the flow’r.
Blind unbelief is
sure to err
And scan His work
in vain;
God is His own
interpreter,
And He will make it
plain.
Lastly a dear friend shared this devotional by Spurgeon a
couple of weeks ago. Now is a good time
to think on it.
"On mine arm shall they trust." from Isaiah
51:5
In seasons of
severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is
therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its
beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely
trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man
on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God
alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our
friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has
nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped
therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he
cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will
learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed
believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou
hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in
him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be
strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten
thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when
the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy
weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for
feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the
Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth,
glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy
distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were
supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it
rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you
to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.
