“For my thoughts
are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
―Isaiah 55:8
Lord,
I should be in Israel right now.
That
could easily be my thought, but what is the basis for such a statement? Back at
the end of 2019, You know that my wife and I committed to a plan for taking five
additional travelers with us to the Land of Milk and Honey. We had prayed about
and believed we had received confirmation that our plan was Your plan.
Enter
the strange times of Covid19. Early on, we remained hopeful that everything
would work out, because, after all, You had encouraged us on this path―we were
sure of it! But events further unfolded, quarantines ensued, airlines cancelled
flights, and the social-workings/economies of the world froze in time. And so, I
am not in Israel right now.
I
observed other travelers in similar circumstances who also were taken by surprise.
Several in fact dared to travel to another country during the early onset of the
viral spread and were sent packing after conditions rapidly changed. Others like
us were refused the option to travel altogether and found themselves either reconciling
their desires with Yours, or resenting the incursion of unwanted change to
their arrangements.
Yes,
in honesty, I was confused, Lord. Why build up our expectations when, with your
Foreknowing, Omniscient abilities, You could have discouraged us from the start?
Wouldn’t that have been the better plan?
How
arrogant am I, that I should consider I know Your ways? Maybe by way of Your
encouragement, our group has developed greater communion with one another.
Maybe by way of Your smiling on our anticipation, prayers, and enthusiasm, we
have found deeper relationship with You. Maybe, just maybe, all of what is
happening is not completed―That, I should think, is the higher consideration.
Maybe, no, certainly, in my heart and mind, I should realize You have future
plans for us to consider.
In
this moment of consideration, I should not speculate on the positive or
negative aspects of Your design, or on my reactions. I should not venture a
guess as to where this all leads, who will benefit, who might not. Just as Your
son did when called to, what I should try to do are the hardest things of all…submit
and trust. That will even require me to accept that I should reexamine what it
is that defines Your benefits. And then I should choose and be ready to receive
an alternative calling from You, different from my selfish expectations.
I
should try, Lord, to submit. I should struggle to trust. “Should”, and “Will”.
Which will it be, Lord?
Help
me…cause―just as the psalmist pleaded with You to cause―me to hear and respond
to the words of Your lovingkindness. Help me to walk with others as we wrestle to
discover humility in the moment, to understand and embrace Your ways.
And
maybe, just maybe in my pursuit of deeper relationship and understanding with You
and with others, I will be…
―Blessed
and satisfied.
It
should and, I pray, will be so,
Mark
C.
markcwrites@gmail.com
