Have you ever had one of those “Why today of all days” kind of day? If so, read on, because I had one of those days recently.
I was divinely set up. It had not occurred to me that it was the anniversary of my dad’s death, until I was driving to church. And then it was only a passing thought. It was nice not feeling the grieving that I’d felt on previous anniversaries.
During the worship service, our worship leader, Heidi, shared that it was her mom’s birthday. And that only a month ago, her mom was not expected to live. She went on to challenge us with words to this effect:
“If you are needing a miracle, trust God. He will answer, whether in this life, or in eternity with Him.”
God began speaking to my heart. Words of comfort and assurance that I did not know I needed: that the healing between my dad and myself was not done. That healing would be completed in eternity.
As the service continued, my grieving opened; not grieving dad’s death, but rather his life. Grieving the darkness that took hold in his life many years before I was born. A darkness that he never confronted. A darkness that kept him from being a father.
And that is where God’s comfort met my grief. I am not guaranteed the security of any specific human relationship, but I AM guaranteed a father. A true Father. The Father I have through faith in Jesus Christ. The Father who is known as “A Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68)
Psalm 68 opens with this: “May God arise.” These are words of confidence in One who will defend His children. One who stirs hope and anticipation in the heart, rather than fear and distrust in the soul. This One is God, my Father!
“Sing to God; sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him – his name is the LORD” (Vs 4) pictures One Who is Mighty in His rightful place of exalted worship. Then, the very next words present the amazing picture God’s gentleness and tenderness towards those who trust Him:
“A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.”
David, the writer of these words, knew what it was to live with a father wound. His own dad did not believe that God might have great plans for his son’s life. (1 Samuel 16) David found his true Father in his relationship with God.
And so have I.
365 days in a year; so why did God chose this anniversary to correspond with this church service? Because God wanted to remind me that He will finish what He has started; the healing of my father wound. He has once again proved Himself to be my good Father.
SO… if you are having one of those “Why today of all days” kind of day, pay attention! Maybe this is your opportunity to experience God’s love in a very personal way.
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