Farmville Enterprise April 25, 2018
Many of you went to see I Can Only Imagine in theaters recently. The film focused on one member of the Christian band Mercy Me and was based on his heartbreaking and then divinely restored relationship with his father. In 2017 that band released a hit song entitled “Even If.”
“You’ve been faithful; You’ve been good all of my days.
Jesus, I will cling to you, come what may.
‘Cause I know you’re able, I know you can
save through the fire with your mighty hand.
But even if you don’t, my hope is you alone.
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
would all go away if you’d just say the word.
But even if you don’t, my hope is you alone.”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when facing the fiery furnace, understood this truth that God was able to do anything he chose to do. Refusing to bow down to the golden statue they said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-20) No matter what the circumstances, the ultimate power rests with God. We cannot predict how he will act or answer our prayers but we know that God is completely faithful, good and able. He can do anything.
A year and a half before singer Natalie Grant was diagnosed with cancer she penned the following lyrics.
“Help me want the Healer more than the healing.
Help me want the Savior more than the saving.
Help me want the Giver more than the giving.
Oh help me want you, Jesus, more than anything.”
Grant later commented that she wanted to learn to seek God’s face before seeking his hand and to declare God’s goodness regardless of the outcome. No matter what you are facing, please know that God is with you and cares. He is able to save us from hardships and pain but we are not always spared from these things. Jesus was not. No matter what, we can trust and rest in who God is. God is all love and compassion. His ways are not our ways. We love God simply for who he is, not for what he can do for us.
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’”
“Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:8;14)
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