Questions and a Wake Up Call

I think I want black and white answers to the questions that can plague me.

But as I get older, as our children leave the nest, as I do ministry and listen to stories from God’s children around this world, I am not sure we can create a faith nurturing checklist of “do’s” and “don’ts” for all that we experience in our lives. It’s too hard.

My wife and I had the privilege of spending some time with a family who is going through a tough season in life. One of their members, the elder statesman if you will, has gone through some significant health scares and is now in a long term care facility.

It was easy to blame the health care system for some of the mistreatments this person received. The evidence was clear. Sure things need to be fixed and sometimes an organization needs a wakeup call to the realize the problems, but is that a good reason to chuck the whole system to the curb?

Through it all, this person developed doubts. Not just in the system, but in their own being.

Am I worthy?

Am I good enough?

Does Jesus actually love me?

Those are big questions. Ones that each one of us, if we are honest, wrestle with from time to time, particularly in the lowest seasons of our lives.

I am reminded at times like this that when we put our trust in princes, or for that matter, doctors, hospitals, teachers, or maybe even churches, we hope to find answers from broken vessels.

And yet in spite of their shortcomings, they serve a purpose. As infected as these places may be, God uses them, uses us to proclaim the message of Grace and Hope in the one who came to save us from an eternity of separation and reveals the true answer to our questions.

I now find myself more and more leaning into a place of “Dear God, may Your will be done.”

Ready to share the story of a broken world full of things that don’t always make sense and yet. . .finds reclamation, reconciliation, and redemption from the one who has the power to make all things right.