Be still my soul

In church, we have been in John, chapter 11. If you do not remember the story, Lazarus, was sick. He was going to die. Mary and Martha sent word. Jesus did not come. They put Lazarus' dead body in a tomb. Jesus waited 4 long, days to come.....

"LAZARUS, COME FORTH!"

If I could see an instant replay, I would choose that moment...it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck to try to imagine it..


I guess I could take up the whole blog with the story. The Word of God says a few verses later that because of what their eyes beheld, that many of the Jews came to believe in Jesus.

That is the whole purpose behind these words I have been pecking for the last very long while.

I want you to understand that my "story" is simply that--a story, of a woman who has had cancer and suffered. Without God, and some sort of response from YOU the reader of these blatherings, it is hollow and empty...
but with God, with perhaps a tinier understanding of WHO HE IS, you too, may come to believe Him.
I want to give Him the glory.

Suffering comes to all of us. None of us are immune. Not a one. Jesus said in John that "in this world, we will have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world." Jn 16:33

We can have 3 responses: (when suffering comes into our lives)
(this is not mine)
1. God is impotent. That's just the way He is. He can't do anything about it.
2. God is malicious. He loves to watch me squirm. He takes a sadistic, sicko pleasure in my suffering.
3. God is sovereign. He is able to cure, deliver, help, rescue, heal, but sometimes for reasons I do not understand, He allows suffering into my life.

Obviously I choose option 3. Honestly, I do not understand His ways. I have a heightened, painful awareness that as I write, my brother, is in Heaven. He suffered too and for reasons I do not know, He allowed my flesh and blood sibling to be in His presence. That hurts my heart deeply...why did He allow that? Why?


I still choose response 3.

That dear readers, if you are reading out there, is the major reason I write this crazy blog!
To tell you God is sovereign. To tell You He loves You.
To tell you that no matter what you are facing, God is right there, and longs to walk through it all with you, step by step. Some days, He will carry you, when you cannot take one step at all.
I know, because He did it for me and He still is...

I want to close with a hymn.
I think I may have told you how powerful I believe they are. Timeless truths, put to song.
It is titled Be Still My Soul

Be still my soul!
The Lord is on Thy side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul!
thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still my soul! thy God doth undertake to guide the future
as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still my soul!
the waves and wind still know, His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still my soul! The hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, loves' purest joys restored.
Be still my soul!
when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.



He is faithful,
Bonnie