I came across a blog post today from Sarah Beth Gulke's sister, Christa. She's on the left, Sarah is on the right.
I wept when I read it and as Dr. John Piper would say "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". Christa and Sarah are part of a late teens/twenty something's group my older kids started. They grapple with hard questions in life, not just lame dating drama.
Questions like, "Why did my Dad die when I was a kid?"
"Why did my Mom goes through such a long time of suffering and we had to work so hard to take care of each other instead of her doing it?"
"Why is my sister still in pain after years of praying for healing?"
These questions will be asked at some point in life but these young people have chewed on them sooner than they'd have cared to do but are better people for it.
In Genesis, Joseph suffered for 13 years at the hands of his hateful brothers, false accusations and betrayal. But in the end, he said,
Genesis 50:20New International Version (NIV)
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
We can't get too short sighted this side of Heaven. Some stuff will be resolved on earth and other things, we're not going to have an answer for until after we've died and met God face to face.
During my long extended illness, I argued hard with God. One doesn’t usually win those battles as God doesn’t do focus groups. Because He’s infinitely patient with people like me, the greatest thing I’ve learned and come to appreciate in all of my suffering is that God is GOOD, period. Not because I will ever be able to work outside the home again. Not because my mortgage will be paid off in my lifetime. Not because He answers my prayers the way I request.
He is GOOD. And that is that.
For too long, I used to say, “Oh my, God has so blessed me because of His provision for our needs in this way or that.”
This was true, but way too conditional and fragile. What happened to my faith in a God who sees and cares when He did not act in accordance to my will?? I was able, because God truly loves me, to have my faith shaken to the core. All the props were taken out and I was left bedridden, useless, a huge financial, emotional, physical and mental drain. My life appeared worthless and I was hopeful God would at least answer my prayer to let me die already.
He did not.
Instead He gave my husband, and children the grace to deal day by day with the uncertainty of my recovery. They continued to care for me, not knowing if I was going to live or die. My life was not valuable to them, or to God, because I was contributing. I’ve always said I’m pro life, but this conviction was sorely tested when it came to my own. I found myself way more conditional when it came to my value than I ever had been with the babies I’d cared for as a nurse.
When a good measure of my health was restored after being at Sanoviv Medical Institute in May of 2012, I was relieved on the one hand but still devastated on the other. Surgeries to alleviate a collapsed bowel wrecked irreparably my ability to be employed outside the home.
I spent the summer weeping and praying and laying my mess of dreams out before God.
The song by Selah, “It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored, but anything that’s shattered, that’s laid before the Lord will not be unredeemed.”
Oh me of little faith….I had no clue how wonderfully God was going to redeem the loss of my job and continue to develop how compassionate/passionate I am for the little ones like our Charlie.
In September of 2012, we got the call about Emmalynn. And the rest is history.......
Right now, Sarah is walking through what appears to be an open door to some healing she's not experienced yet.
We are clinging to the Promiser, not the gift. But, God also says to ask in His name and He's willing to give.
This devotional came in my inbox yesterday and oh my, don't you love it when it hits the nail on the head!!
We are having the Praise and Worship Night on Friday the 17th. Our whole aim of getting together and having those Gulke sisters sing their hearts out along with the rest of us, is to give thanks to God. Our hope at the end of the evening is for people to walk away, shaking their heads saying, "Is God GOOD, or what?!!"
Please read Christa's blog. For one so young, she's held fast in the grip of God's mercy and grace.
Hi Cori. This is just so beautiful, deep and inspirational.
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Thank you!
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