REAR VIEW MIRROR

How often have I heard or read, “I know God is all powerful and was ABLE to heal my child, (mother, husband) But, why didn’t He?”  Timing, affect/effect, loving care, opportunity for growth, trust, lack of obedience on the part of the shooter, driver, or doctor…

Many books have been written on GRIEF – the steps and how to navigate the journey through grief.  Words to say and words NOT to SAY!  Presence and Prayer are Powerful.  But I heard a pastor say:  “People who speak in their hearts through what they say GOD DIDN’T DO, lack the discernment necessary to speak into their MOMENT.”  (whatever the need of the moment)  Our unspoken thoughts about GOD’s lack of empathy toward us do affect the outcome of the future.  Our understanding of His omnipotence is clouded by our anger and resentment about previous times of grief, previous times of unanswered prayer, previous times of frustration.

The devotion in The Upper Room this morning was from Isaiah 43: 16-21, and especially vs 18 – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”  Every little town that we have visited, or parked at, has a museum with knowledgeable docents anxious to discuss their memories, or the glory days, or the historical significance of their corner of our country.  The Israelites in the Old Testament down to the practicing Jews of our day keep the feasts proscribed in the Torah, remembering GOD’s faithfulness and great acts of mercy in rescuing their ancestors from slavery in Egypt.  Walking on dry land, water from a rock, manna for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, quail - when they complained about the unimaginative food choices!   Gratitude was not their daily mindset. 

Jesus at the Last Supper told the disciples to break bread together, drink the wine together to REMEMBER his sacrifice until He returned.  Perhaps it is a fine line between REMEMBERING and DWELLING, between learning from your history and REPEATING it?!  Remembering the good deeds and forgetting the hurtful ones is never easy, but certainly necessary.

The rear view mirror in our GMC is actually a camera image, showing what is actually behind you without the distraction of what is going on in the back seat!  Obviously, it is one of those “well turn it off if not helpful” devices.   I am not sure how that relates to my maxim that “if you spend too much of your time checking the rear view mirror, you WILL run into a TREE.”  I may have to rethink that based on our newer technology.

 I will continue to chew on that statement of the pastor about blaming GOD when prayers are not answered the way I wish them to be.  When we recite the negatives we have a hard time being grateful for the blessings and noting GOD’s perfect timing and care. 

HAPPY TRAILS!