Happy Independence Day today to you all.
My heart is heavy and grateful this week as our daughter returned from a weeklong mission trip in Guatemala and my wife and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary tomorrow, July 5.
While in Guatemala, our daughter visited a home for young women who have been trafficked, ranging from the ages of 12 to 17, many with children of their own. One of the young women our daughter met, said her favorite chapter of the Bible is Psalm 10.
In Verses 10 and 11 of Psalm 10, David said 10 “So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength, 11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
No matter how bad the world around us seems to be, God has not forgotten us. He sees us. His promises and love are true, and He fulfills His promises. The challenge is that God’s timing is not our timing, and our understanding of the hate and sin of this world are not easy to comprehend.
The suffering and sin that we see in our world has occurred since the beginning of time. If the Bible does anything, it shows us that even back to Adam and Eve, mankind has made poor choices that are evil, inconceivable, and against God.
The sins of the world are not the fault and doing of God. The deplorable sins and suffering are caused by man alone.
Yet God still fulfills his promises with every new day. A life following Christ washes away even the worst of our experiences and refreshes us with a new life and hope knowing we are loved and wanted by our Creator.
What about the poor and the weak? What about the vulnerable that are taken advantage of by evil people?
Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
A life without suffering is not possible. Suffering provides us a path to Christ. We seek solace in times of pain and challenges wanting an end to our unhappiness. We challenge and frequently deny the need to relent and depend on God for our strength. Suffering brings about resilience and strength to understand that our faith in Christ provides the solace and satisfaction in this life.
God does not leave us or forsake us. God’s love is eternal for all, every day, every year, and every generation. No matter what our situation, sin, or pain, God is walking with us, with every step. Many times, we just need to stop and ask Him for wisdom, guidance, and strength.
Throughout our 25 years of marriage, we certainly have experienced the highs and lows of life. What is most certainly true is the happiest times of our marriage are when we are walking in faith with our Lord and turning to His Word for guidance and understanding. Our marriage has been sustained by our faith, together, in Christ.
Happy 25th Anniversary to my bride…and many more!
