Dave’s Monday Blast – March 28, 2016
Our discussion concerning Discerning the Will of God and experiencing contentment in the midst of life has been put to the test for my family this last couple of weeks. My younger brother found himself in need of a new heart. His had failed. He had been on a transplant list at UCLA Medical Center since September of 2015. After many disappointments, false hopes, and near death experiences, he got his heart on 03-15-16; but unfortunately, that “perfect match heart” would not perform sufficiently after a “textbook installation”. He was placed on an ECMO (heart and lung) machine to sustain his life.
When plans are frustrated or life just seems to fall apart in some way, people often wonder, Has God deserted me? Why hasn’t He answered my prayers? The Bible offers encouragement for such times by assuring us of the Father’s faithfulness: “Know therefore, that the Lord our God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving kindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
Five attributes of God make this possible:
- He is omniscient,which means He knows everything, including our every need, thought, frailty, desire, and life situation in the past, present, and future.
- The Lord is omnipotent, or all-powerful, so nothing is too hard for Him(Jeremiah 32:17).
- He is omnipresent,existing everywhere at once; He is never beyond reach.
- He cannot lie.Everything He says is true and reliable.
- God is unchanging. Our circumstances and the world around us may seem to be in a constant state of flux, and the Lord my even modify the way He chooses to interact with mankind in different generations. But His character is always the same. So when Scripture tells us that God is faithful, we can rest confidently upon that promise.
Circumstances can be painful. But even when situations seem overwhelming, believers can trust that our sovereign Lord knows all, is in control, and lovingly works everything for His children’s good. We can rest confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.
Oh…exactly one week after his transplant…my brother’s heart began firing on all cylinders and it appears that our God is still in the business of miracles. We were INTENTIONALLY trusting in His plan for my brother and his young family…we were content whatever the outcome…but I must say, in our humanity…this appears to be the better outcome. We covet your prayers as he has a long road in front of him, but God is faithful.
