Finding Peace in the Storm

I am amazed, saddened and very concerned over what has transpired since my last blog:

• Congress was gaveled into session and the opening prayer, delivered by an ordained minister, appealed for peace“…in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names, by many different faiths.” At the end, his affirmation was an equally aberrant: “Amen and Awoman.”

• Rioters scaled the walls and gained entrance to the Capital building by force. This had not happened since 1814. At that time, it was by foreign forces and not American citizens. Ultimately, five people lost their lives and our nation is left trying to figure out what went wrong. 

• Linda tested positive for Covid 19. The wonderful staff, nurses and caregivers at Legacy Village are making every effort to see that her needs are met, and I have reason to believe that her symptoms will be mild. Nevertheless, to say the least, this news was unnerving to me.

Collectively, these events force me to admit I have not fully released Linda into the Lord’s care, allowed him to set me free, and fully realized all things are under his control. Honestly, I thought I had made greater progress than I have.Regarding the first two, my journal notes from April 2019 are somewhat prescient:

I Must Release Linda.

“This was what Christ was wanting me to understand when he spoke to me in February 2017: TRUST LINDA TO ME! I LOVE HER MORE THAN YOU DO! Despite her reduced ability to verbally communicate, it is obvious her desires and affections are increasingly upon Jesus and the home he has prepared for her. As strange as it may seem, the more childlike she becomes, the greater is her capacity to reflect the image of her Savior and his continuing presence on earth.” 

“In terms of the Kingdom of God, it is as if she has one foot in Heaven and one on earth. Someday, God is going to release the other foot and allow her to forever be completely in his presence. Until then, a work of transformation is being completed.”

God Wishes to Set Me Free.

“Unhampered by the cares of this life, Linda is free to simply enjoy being a child of God.  I must grasp that God wishes to set me free so that I might do likewise. In the past, I have spent an inordinate amount of time focusing on my failures, failing to appreciate my successes, and never truly accepting God’s unconditional love. Masquerading as humility, I have become aware it is really a subtle form of pride.” 

All Things Are Under His Control.

Productively responding to these three issues requires me to view the events of this week in light of the Sovereignty of God: The underlying cause of the events in our capital is spiritual in nature and cannot be solved by human reasoning. Linda is my earthly wife; however, she is God’s child for eternity. God wants my ministry to flow out of a position of rest and not painful labor.

Therefore, I must look to those who have gone before me and found answers to life’s tragedies. At the top of my list, outside of biblical heroes, would be Horatio and Anna Spafford. In 1871, they lost much of their wealth in the Great Fire of Chicago. Two years later, business demands prevented Horatio from joining his wife and four daughters on a planned vacation to England. While crossing the Atlantic, their ship went down and all four daughters were lost. Upon arriving at her destination, Anna, who survived, sent a two-word telegraph to Horatio: “Saved alone.” Sailing to join his wife, as he neared the spot where his daughters died, he penned one of the great hymns of the Church: It is Well with My Soul.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pain shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

As primary caregiver to Linda, mere survival is not an option. God desires for me to thrive and share the overflow with others!