This will be an encouragement to some, and perhaps a discouragement to others---and I am sorry to those who are not ready to receive this. But I stand here as a representative today to say that if you will persistently open your heart to God in your pain, He will [eventually] grant you a peace and comfort you may presently believe is out of reach. The truth does that. It sets you free!
This jumped out to me in my devotional this morning:
“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years." (Acts 13:17-20)
I am 16 years into my estrangement from my oldest son, Keaton. Sixteen years to me is a VERY LONG TIME! I have at times impatiently waited on God, especially in the beginning. But over the years, God has imparted to me (at least partially thus far) the revelation of His timing, and taught me how to be what I called "Kingdom-Minded."
To be Kingdom-Minded means not looking at just my present circumstances, but also to the larger kingdom plan that He is working together for good for ALL who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He is not working it together for just me, but for ALL.
Each of us, including our precious children, are on an individual path to the cross and beyond, to eternity. And each journey affects other people's journies in ways we may never know or comprehend this side of heaven. There is a perfect place, time, and opportunity for God to give the invitation, and for my child to accept it. And that timing is woven into the fabric of ALL THAT HE IS ACCOMPLISHING IN THE EARTH!
Think about that!
Why would I rush Him? Why would I ask Him to deviate from that which is perfect and most likely to yield the result we both want?
Because of impatience. Selfishness. Ignorance.
Blindness.
The little piece of history referenced above took 450 YEARS to play out. People were born, lived, and died during that time. God is not as concerned with the passage of time on earth as He is with getting people positioned and getting people into the Family of God forever!
To confidently trust our God is wisdom. It is the highest compliment you can pay Him. Search Him in your prayer closet until you can "see," and then your soul will begin to rest in Him.
The tears will be fewer and far between. You even experience unbelievable joy, side-by-side with your loss and pain, because You know the One who is working behind the scenes is FAITHFUL.
Perfect love casts out fear of the unknown. The what-ifs. (1 John 4:18). When you really, truly know God IS LOVE, worry doesn't make sense and you can "let go and let God."
I am trusting Him to do His perfect work in each one of your hearts as you seek and follow Him on this critical, consequential, and monumental journey of faith.