SOMEDAY……

WE WILL UNDERSTAND

As we continue on in this journey of life, walking with our Lord, things happen in our lives and in the lives of those we love or come in contact with that we have no answers to their problems. 

As a Pastor I run into this frequently.  I meet a beautiful elderly lady in great pain, and she wonders “why” do I suffer so when Jesus has promised never to give me more than I can bear?   I can only comfort her with the promises of God’s Word, and give her hope and encourage her with the Love of Christ.  Then hold her in my arms, cry with her, and give her problem back to the only One who can lift that burden, our Lord Jesus Christ, and someday she will understand why she has to go through this trial and suffering.  Right now the sky is dark and clouds are dark in her life, but someday, and maybe soon for her, she will understand when she sees her Savior face to face.

In recent weeks I have heard of returning cancer in a loved one.  I have seen despair and loss of hope in others.  But I have learned to keep my focus on Jesus and ask for His strength for everyday, as the work of the ministry goes on in reaching out to my suffering brothers and sisters.  It is so hard sometimes to see a beloved sister in the Lord so crippled in body, and I want to weep.  I don’t understand when another brother and sister in the Lord are now in deep stages of dementia and are so confused, and it is hard to reach them at times.  But someday……………………

There is a dear lady in a nursing home who is so precious and loves the Lord.  She is confined to bed now, resting with her stuffed “bunnies.”  Yes, she has stuffed “bunnies” all around her.  Her dear husband, who has gone home to Jesus, gave her a stuffed bunny before he passed, and she named it her “Honey Bunny” because her “Honey Bunny” is now in heaven waiting for her.  So we spend most of my visit with her talking about heaven, and oh, she wants to go “home!”  She knows that even though her body is failing and sometimes the tears come, but she will understand someday when she sees her Lord face to face. 

Here is an old hymn that many of you will remember.  It will remind us of the storms we go through, and the problems we face, and the hope and joy in knowing that someday we will understand it all!

 WE WILL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY

“We are tossed and driven on the restless sea of time; somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine; in that land of perfect day, when the mist are rolled away, we will understand it better by and by.

By and By, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story of how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by.

We are often destitute of the things that life demands, want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands; we are trusting in the Lord, and according to God’s Word, we will understand it better by and by.

Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand all the ways of God would lead us to that blessed promised land; but he guides us with his eye, and we’ll follow till we die, for we’ll understand it better by and by.   (Written by Charles Tindley)

“For now we see though a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall know even as I am known” I Corinthians 13:12.

Yes, we are driven on this sea of life, and sometimes the storms howl around us.  Sometimes we walk in sunshine and all is calm, then another storm comes rolling in.  But someday,  everything will become clear.  Right now it is like looking through a blurry mirror, we only see a shadow, but what will it be like when everything becomes clear, and we see Him face to face, and all our doubts and fears are suddenly erased and we see and understand!

And sometimes we become destitute of the things that we need.  There are many right now who have lost jobs and don’t know where the next supply of groceries will come from to feed their families.  Some have lost their homes.  We become dry in our souls as we become discouraged.  But God’s Word promises:  ‘’I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” Psalm 37:25.

Yes, God has promised He will never forsake you even when times are tough.  But someday, we will live in a land where we will never want for anything, and someday we will understand it all.

Trials seem to come on every hand, and we don’t understand the “whys” of it all.  And we don’t understand how the Lord leads us on this journey of life.  The path ahead is rough and steep sometimes, there are boulders in the way, mountains to climb, rivers of sorrow flow over us.  But just ahead, around the next bend, by faith, we can get a glimpse of that city ahead, that bright and golden place of rest promised for those who love Him.

Here is an old chorus we used to sing when I was young and don’t hear it sung anymore, but you may remember it: “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable.  Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through.  God specializes in things thought impossible.  And He will do what no other one can do.” (unknown)

All the problems that we face, all the mountains that seem so high, the Lord is there walking ahead of us, guiding us through impossible situations, answering prayer, encouraging our hearts, giving us His wonderful peace.  And someday morning will come and we will all be gathered together at last, there won’t be any more mountains of difficulty to climb or rivers of sorrow to cross, and we will finally understand it all.  And I can hardly wait!

How about you? 

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon