On one particular day last week, my whole family struggled with various degrees of grief and discontentment. We all seemed to remember deep down that we weren’t at our beloved, annual Family Camp trip on the Oregon Coast. One of us may have even said, “I’m not supposed to be here this week.”
Sadness over lost vacation plans is totally normal. And when things are (or seem to be) taken from us by other people, it’s tempting to allow our emotions to turn from grief to anger. I’ve fallen into this many times over the years – and long before COVID.
Often, this comes down to the fact that I can’t see God’s hand working in unjust or seemingly unfair circumstances. But my inability to see God’s hand at work does not mean he has lost control or he’s dropped the ball. It’s an issue of my perspective; it’s not an issue of whether he is faithful and powerful.
God is Still God
It’s crucial for us to remember that even in the most difficult and painful experiences, God has not stopped being God. Our interrupted hopes and plans are not echoes of his interrupted providence. So even while we may mourn losses and cry out to God for various wrongs to be righted, we also cling to the hope that “Our God is in the heavens and he does all that he pleases.” (Psalm 115:3 ESV)
I’m missing my Family Camp people this week. I am longing to catch up on life with them, to warm by the beach campfire with them. I’m longing for our joyful and hearty singing together, and to learn side by side with one another. I might not have that experience anytime soon.
Satisfied By Him
As I secure my heart in the Lord’s providence and goodness though, he reminds me that the very good longing my heart has for this deep fellowship will one day be fully satisfied by him. One day, I will be in his presence with his people and for all of eternity.
Meanwhile, I’m waiting for that Day and trusting that Jesus will continue to hold my future and my right now – interrupted plans and all. He will fulfill his purposes for us and he will continue to do all things well.
Photo by Masha Shubin on Unsplash
