This blog represents, in part, my effort to satisfy my love of writing, which is hard work, if done well. My wife discovered a new blog, and offered it to me. I am humbled by such good writers, with a timely message. The writer’s name is Christina Fox, and the blog’s title is “Afflicted for Our Good,” which can be found at her website at christinafox.com.
My wife, Candace, reviewed our budget for last year. She complained to me, “I don’t know why I’m doing this. What good does it do?”
When she retired from teaching a few years ago, she said she wanted to take over the job of paying the bills, because it helped her feel more in control. I reminded her control is one our most cherished delusions, but I’d gladly relinquish the task to her, and she could choose her own methods. She’s done a great job, and adapted to newer methods of payment, rather than the old checkbook I used.
As she worked through her budget review, she discovered an automatic payment debited twice last year. I sent an inquiry to the vendor, and the next morning we received an apology, and a credit.
I titled this entry “Budget Blessings,” because there was a time when I viewed small blessings as just God’s little taps on the shoulder to say, “I’m still here.” Does God limit our blessings? Does He have a quota for “amount and size” of His blessings? I can hear it now, “Well let’s see, Pete is at 95% of his quota, so I’ll wait for his blessings battery to recharge.”
God is infinite. When He sends me a small blessing, He designed this gift specifically to do good in my life, to work His will for me, or through me for others. I once listened to a financial expert discuss different ways to look at the national economy. Some see the economy as a single pie, which must be carefully sliced, and apportioned by those in charge. Others see the economy as a bakery, creating more delicious pies as needed.
God has an infinite number of pies. I believe when He gives me a small slice, He does this intentionally, not because He’s rationing His blessings. I rejoice in it! The Creator of everything has watched me, and designed a specific blessing just for this moment, because He loves me, and wants good for me.
I thought about what God might teach me through the unexpected blessing of the returned debit, and as I prayed, thanking Him, I took in a short breath, and said to God, somewhat accusatory, “You knew!”
God knew about the extra debit the moment it happened. He knew about it from eternity past. He’s outside of time. He created time. He is omniscient. I find this quality of God comforting. This blessing resulted from God’s hand to us.
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! ‘For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?’ ‘And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?’ For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen” (Romans 11:33-36, NLT.)
This has been a rough year for most families, and for our household, with a few extras thrown in. In early March, Candace had a serious accident, and pretty much totaled her car. One morning, a couple of days later, she couldn’t remember her address, or hardly walk. With the help of a dear friend, I rushed her to the hospital, and about an hour later, she lay unconscious in a helicopter, bound for emergency surgery at another hospital 40 miles away, to have a large blood clot on her brain removed. As my friend drove me to the next hospital, I felt shaken.
Praise God, after a few days, Candace returned home. Soon after, the pandemic quarantine hit. Some people hoarded, and made it a difficult to find some supplies, but like most, we made do. Just when phase one of reopening began, we watched the news reports about deaths, protest marches, rioting, looting and arson in many cities.
God knew about these events from eternity past. A thousand millennia ago, they were a part of His present, but why should He care about us?
“what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4, ESV.)
I recalled our recent events, and saw God’s loving, providing hand. We realized from what the neurosurgeon told us, that Candace developed the subdural hematoma because of a fall months before, and the growing pressure over her brain manifested in a car accident. As a result, I observed her closely for the next couple of days, resulting in the rush to the hospital. I could have awakened to find she had perished quietly in the night.
The car accident, which we viewed as terrible at the time, set up a sequence of events that protected her life. Coincidence? I give glory and praise to God for His protection.
The doctor didn’t release Candace to full activity until the middle of June, so for a couple of months, I didn’t let her to do much around the house. She complained about this state of affairs to my sister, who replied, “Candace, think about this. That your husband washes clothes, and does housework isn’t a bad thing.” We had a good laugh. God has forever known about all of this. King David spoke to God about the same kind of thing.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Psalm 139:1, NLT.) Later in Psalm 139, David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (verses 23-24 NLT.) David invited God into his thoughts and emotions, no matter how repulsive.
I know these trying experiences helped me to grow closer to God, and to appreciate, and take more confidence in, His infinite knowledge and wisdom.
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]” (Hebrews 4:16, AMP.)
As for our beloved, and besieged, America, my hope is with our wonderful God. Jesus showed us the way to have Living Water springing up to eternal life. The answers to America’s struggles remain in His perfect wisdom. I believe He has a plan for our good from eternity past, and He wants us to humble ourselves, and seek His wisdom and healing.
“God’s wisdom is like the rainbow, in symmetry, beauty, and variety. He does not paint scenes merely in black and white, but uses a riot of colour from the heavenly palette in order to show the wonder of His wise dealings with His people. – Sinclair Ferguson” (John MacArthur, Our Awesome God.)
The next time I fall short of God’s best for me, or feel inadequate for the challenges I face, I’ll try to remember the Apostle Peter. The night before the Jesus went to the cross, he told Peter he would deny Him three times before morning. Rather than reject Peter, He gave him a commission.
“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32, NIV.)
I pray for an outpouring of Living Water, and revival, in America.
Selah.