FriNov52010
Just last week while I was putting my girls to bed and reading them the story of Noah I asked them how they would have felt being stuck on the Ark with all those stinky animals for so long.
What would they think about God? Had he forgotten? Was He not in control any longer?
McKinley said that 40 days and 40 nights would be a long time to be stuck on a boat. Her eyes widened when I told her that 40 days and nights was just how long it rained ... they were on the boat for over a year!
Well, this made her really think. After a few seconds passed a smile came across her face and she said, "Well Daddy, I would think that God must have me on a pretty important mission." I was taken aback a bit and asked, "But wouldn't you wonder if God forgot about you?" And she said, "No. He told me to build the boat and to get on the boat. He caused the rain. So if it's taking a long time and it's really hard then He must have me on a really important mission!"
I sat there on her bed, with my voice still not healed after 4 weeks and quietly thanked God for such an encouraging and powerful word from my 6 year old!
Normally, what's our first reaction to struggles? So often I am quick to lose hope or trust in God and I begin to question whether our Heavenly Father is really all powerful or if He really is loving. I wonder why I have to be going through tough times. Can't He help? Doesn't He care? The truth is that He is in complete control and does care more than we can imagine.
My prayer is that as we find ourselves stuck on different Arks throughout our life - Arks of illness, loss, pain or struggle - that we can have confidence that God is in control and maybe he has you on a really important mission!
Living by His Grace,
Kaj