The rocks rock!

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The desk where I sit and write becomes messy quickly and needs frequent de-cluttering. Even when I’ve filed all the papers, put the pens and glasses away and removed the dirty dishes, there’s one item that always stays: my Scripture rocks.

Scripture rocksWhen Nate and I first heard that his cancer would take his life, we resisted accepting what we’d been told. I remember the morning after his diagnosis. My sister Mary had rushed from the Chicago area to Michigan to do what she could, and that next morning I found a beach stone sitting atop my kitchen counter with her writing on it.

It was a Scripture passage meant to encourage both Nate and I, which it did. (“A Rocky Road,” October 10, 2009.) Two days later I found another rock, and over the next few weeks, nine more, always when we needed them most.

In addition to the Bible verses on each one, the stones were a continual reminder that our lives were built on the solid Rock, Jesus Christ. It helped to know when life became unstable, that this firm foundation would never be shaken.

California earthquakeEarlier this month northern California was rocked with the most significant earthquake in 25 years. Some people lost everything, and others were frightened by the continuing threat of further quake episodes.

Most of us walk around thinking we have a measure of control over our lives. In reality, it doesn’t take more than a few seconds to shake us badly, either physically (an earthquake) or emotionally (cancer). Both can come without warning. Both can snuff out lives. What, then, is unshakeable?

My Scripture rocks.

The words they represent have the power to remain standing through natural disasters, diseases and everything in between. From those verses, come some unshakeable guarantees: the Lord is a stronghold in times of trouble, a firm place to stand, my refuge, a strong tower, a Rock eternal; he wipes away my tears, restores my soul, puts a song in my mouth; he’ll never forsake me, will set me on a high rock, will not allow me to be shaken.

But we were shaken by Nate’s cancer, and the citizens of Christchurch were shaken by the earthquake. So are these verses lying? No. They’re describing truth that applies to our hearts, souls and minds, the real us. As Nate discovered during his last days, everything was taken from him except one thing: the Lord. Earthquake victims learned that same reality this week, and eventually we’ll all experience it.

Heart rockThis truth makes us tremble until we look at what Jesus said on Mary’s heart-shaped rock:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Keep Talking

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I know my prayers are often blotted with selfishness and are off the mark. God must smile at my efforts the way I smile at a child trying to write her name for the first time. The effort is sincere, but the result is skewed. But she keeps trying, and so do I.

Why? Because talking with the Almighty, the One who has power over all things and owns the Universe, is a privilege beyond price. It’s a luxury more valuable than talking with President Obama, Bill Gates or Brad Pitt. God is the only One who can affect change not only in the world but also in the human heart.

Praying handsChuck Swindoll said, “There is no more significant involvement in another’s life than prevailing, consistent prayer. It is more helpful than a gift of money, more encouraging than a strong sermon, more effective than a compliment, more reassuring than a physical embrace.”

When Nate and I were first married, we didn’t understand each other very well. I expected things from him that he couldn’t give, mostly because he didn’t know I wanted them. For example, when I got emotional about something and started to cry, I’d long for him to come and sit next to me, put his arm around me, and sympathize. Instead he came with a list of ways to fix the problem.

I could have told him he was missing the mark and described what I wanted from him, and he would have delivered. But I thought he should have known it already, instinctively, or should have been able to read my mind, which of course he couldn’t.

But that’s the remarkable thing about prayer. As I’m babbling away trying to find the words to express my longing, God has already got it. He knows my passions, frustrations, wants, and needs. I talk to him because I love him for that and for how many ways he’s demonstrated his love to me. Also, I know he has the ability to affect internal changes, something even a powerful world dictator can’t do.

It’s difficult talking to someone who is dear to me but who I cannot see or audibly hear. The Lord knows this is hard but doesn’t want it to become a stumbling block to our continued conversation. Jesus even mentioned this dilemma to his disciples when he said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29) That’s us.

And so I know he knows, which brings comfort as well as a desire for me to keep talking. It won’t always be this way, though. Some day I’ll get to see him exactly like the disciples did, as a mentor and friend, visible, audible, and talking directly to me. And I can’t wait!

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

Poor Job

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Job.A while ago, our ladies Bible study went through the book of Job. The first chapter left us breathless watching 4 of Job’s servants deliver nonstop bad news. In 7 verses we learned that this exceedingly wealthy man had lost 11,000 farm animals, all but 4 of his scores of employees, and his 10 precious children. Later in the story he also lost his health.

As the Bible study leader began, she updated the group on the health of two hospitalized men from the congregation. Both were not doing well, but that wasn’t the end of it.

Part way through our morning, the other pastor arrived to say one of these men had taken a turn for the worse, his family being summoned to say goodbye. We talked of the two wives who were suffering too, and the woman sitting behind me whispered, “It’s too much.” Suddenly the Book of Job became relevant. The same calamities he experienced 3000 years ago still happen today: losses of family, wealth, possessions, businesses, and health.

Why does God let people suffer like that? Our group talked about possible reasons in relation to Job:

  • Maybe his relationship with God was strong only because his life was bursting with blessings.
  • Maybe God wanted to increase Job’s trust in him by letting him discover that when you have nothing, you still have God.
  • Maybe he wanted to deepen Job’s faith by proving to Job he could weather any storm.
  • Maybe Job’s story is simply a teaching example for the rest of us.

Those may be valuable reasons for his suffering back then, but knowing them doesn’t lighten our loads now. When my husband got cancer and died, it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But who’s to say my suffering is over?

Our world is broken. The last time it wasn’t “out of order” was in the Garden of Eden. Although Adam and Eve were people much like us, until they sinned against God their lives were without struggle or sorrow. Their world was all “good.” God even said so.

Our world isn’t so good. Until we leave this earth as Nate did (through death’s door into a God-created “good” paradise), we’ll be challenged to live with losses.

The miracle for each of us is that we’re not suffering on a continual basis. Although God allows it, he also provides times of non-suffering, times for recuperation and strengthening before the next challenge. Job teaches us that when things are going well, life isn’t necessarily normal. Our real “normal” is to be engaged in frequent battles with adversity.

There is some good news, though: since Job made it with his faith intact, we can too.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)