I was thinking about the “seasons of life” the other day. Greg talking about his lack of wanting to decorate the outside of his house due to his kids being grown and out of the house, my own son graduating from High School this year, and just plain getting older got me going. I chaperoned our Middle School Christmas Chorus Concert last night and again, I became reflective as I watched parents look at their performing children in much the same way I looked at my son just a few years ago on that very spot.
Does it seem that God sometimes goes through “seasons of life as well?” I know in my own life there have been times when God seems like He is screaming at me either post or pre-event. No more was that more evident than our 2 year drama with a local Bible Camp in which we were told we couldn’t have Pat Pugh speak to our campers, a year later being un-invited from said Camp seemingly giving brotherhood terrorists / blackmailers the final victory in our long association with Christian Camping, and then having God provide a new Camp and the means to bring Pat to our week of Camp.
As I have said so often, we are still feeling the benefits of Pat’s challenging lessons to our kids, my very own son and this despite the best efforts of men to stand in the way of God. Yes, in the highest and most positive sense I can conjure, God spoke with a very big mouth. He seemingly was saying, “I am sovereign, I am King, and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against the teaching of my Holy Word!” Those are seasons that you can hang on to, teach and preach about them, and remember them in the tough times.
Then there are the times when God seems to be a “mealy mouth.” Perhaps more accurately He at times seems to have “no” mouth at all. His voice is silent. I remember when my Mother’s cancer came back, one month before we were to move into our “dream home” with a “Mother-in-Law’s Quarters.” Steven was in 2nd or 3rd Grade and he loved his “Nanny.” I prayed and prayed for healing, for remission, for a miracle but God was silent. There was no word from God, no last minute save, no healing. Don’t you just love life?
But as someone once said, “Faith isn’t faith unless it’s tested.” I am not a bold person and I don’t like change or tests. I love my routine, my anonymity, and my “ducks in a row.” I love for my God to have a “big mouth” because it’s comforting. I never liked sleeping alone.
Yet as I grow older and I can’t say that I “enjoy” God’s silence but I’m coming to grip with it. I guess that’s one reason to look forward to Heaven. God will never be silent and we don’t have to worry about being alone.
I know I rambled a bit but it was on my heart as are all of you. God bless.
