Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Wounds from a Friend

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted..." Prov. 27:6 (NIV)

Someone recently asked me if my view of God's sovereignty helped or hurt my recovery from grief. I thought for a moment and said, "Yes!"

Life apart from an all knowing, ever present, and in-control Heavenly Father is unthinkable because His sovereignty governs my life and destiny. I know even in my suffering He has never for one moment been out of control. I know Tammy's passing from death unto life wasn’t just an act of grace to save her—it is His will. That’s where the wound comes. It’s hard to grasp anything good from such profound loss, but knowing He is sovereign and good heals me. In His infinite wisdom there’s hope, but at the same time, in His sovereignty there is deep mystery. I trust in Him—not what I understand about Him. I cannot grasp deity anymore than a newborn can grasp quantum physics. I can be cradled in his arms, loved and nursed in my sorrow, and know the goodness of my Lord in the land of the living.

Taking this path leads to greater understanding and insight into life, myself and His sovereignty. His wounds aren’t meant to harm; they’re designed to refine me, to make me a vessel more apt to fulfill His purpose and glorify His name. I trust His wounding because He is my friend. I’m discovering there is no friend like Jesus.

Ed Litton

3 comments:

MikeS said...

A friend once said, "When you can't see the hand of God you have to trust the heart of God."

So many times I haven't been able to see God's hand and struggled to explain or understand why. All I could do is trust His heart, because in spite of everything I feel and see (or can't see)He wants what's best for me.

Ed, great reminder.

Kelli said...

Amen, and God bless you Pastor.

rodney said...

Hi, Pastor Ed. Rodney Brown here. We caught your second service today, and I didn't sleep a wink. Nice job. I was really taken with a song by the special music with the young girl as lead vocalist. "Holy, holy, holy?" Don't know the name of the song. I've gotta have it for my IPod.
Anyway, happy trails.