Life is hard. Sicknesses. Physical ailments. Relational disruptions. Death. Emotional distances. Losses abounding. Sufferings all around. Faith tested.
God’s love seems to be hiding … at least from my human perspective.
The camper was hooked to our car. Our two young GRANDS were safely strapped in their car-seats. We were on our way to Mueller State Park and their first camping experience. Just before our last turn to the left, the road was blocked. The police informed us that a semi truck had turned over and was blocking the entrance to the park. Our camping trip was over before it started.
Three year old Jack querried , Does God know about the truck? Does God know it’s blocking where we want to go?
Isn’t that the question we’re all tempted to ask? Does God know? God, where are you?
“Abba” is the Aramaic word for Father. It was the everyday language that Jesus uses. It conveys the idea of authority and the intimacy of a loving Father’s care. (ESV study Bible, Matthew 6:9) It’s how Jesus came to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. “And he (Jesus) said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36.
Earlier this spring I found myself crying Abba Father, take this cup from me. God, do you know? Your love seems hidden.
I knew the answer. God knows.
This new hard wasn’t a blip on the radar of God’s love.
This new hard was an invitation to pray.
This new hard was an invitation to trust.
At first, my prayers centered around the new hard, my current blip, take this cup. At first they didn’t move me to the yet not what I will.
It was the yet not I (in some versions, nevertheless) that drew me back to God. It was trusting the truth of his Word that brought the peace and calmed my heart.
God was not hiding!
Trust unlocks love.
My prayers changed. God’s Word tells me that his love is steadfast. My question changed. God, what would it look like for me to trust what your Word says today; trust in the midst of this new hard. I want to experience your love. Amen.
My new hard is still hard. I continue to pray that God will take this cup away. And I will continue to remind myself to trust his love even in the midst. Trusting his love looks different each day.
These words, these truths and the rest of Psalm 121 are anchoring my trust.
“My help comes from the LORD,” (verse 2)
Love is not hiding. God is not hiding.
Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2024