Words from the Office
Taking our pain, concerns, questions, and suffering to God does not eliminate them. Rather, the act of worshipful obedience and trust, placing on His shoulders what we were not built to carry, acknowledges our proper place. Sometimes we are more powerful than we realize, but all the time, we need to know of God’s permanent preeminence. He cares for us like no one can. In Romans 8:18, Paul wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
The glory to come will be great, but the licks we take in the interim are doozeys, often that arrive in the form of dreaded phone calls. Dick and Pat Leppink experienced this recently when their daughter-in-law, Lori, on September 15 did not wake up from a night’s sleep. She was 62 and planned to retire next year, partly to spend more time with her husband and their three children.
Peter J. Gomes, the late professor and minister at Harvard University’s Memorial Church (an interdenominational chapel on campus), said in a sermon: “If you let the world define you, you are dead, and that is all there is to it. If you let the Spirit define you, you have a life that even death itself cannot intimidate or extinguish.” Hearing testimony after testimony during the service at Providence Church, it is clear this is how she lived her life. She died serving others in the name of Jesus.
Lord, hear our prayers.
Unfortunately, the phone calls keep coming.
This past Monday I spoke with Aimée on the phone. She and her husband Alonzo have worshipped at Maplewood a handful of times. I have known her since she was a Hope student. If you have seen them, then you know they have a bunch of super cool kids, who it seems keep growing in number each year: twins (age 3, boy and girl) and two daughters (ages 2 and 5 months).
Aimée called to share that the 5-month-old, Aizal, died suddenly on September 29.
There are times where words do not seem to suffice. Even as you trust God’s perfect and caring providence, all you can see fit to do is cry, mourn, and inquire, and at last be silent. Better yet, being a safe space for those most affected to grieve and process, as you establish a ministry of presence, is the best move.
This is how it goes within the beauty and brokenness of the human condition, which is why the Bible declares that God is our refuge, “a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).
Today, may you feel convicted to hug, or apologize to, or clear the air with your friends and loved ones.
“Life packs a strong punch. Please fight our battles for us.” Lord, hear our prayers.
—Pastor James
