God Is Weaving Us A Story

I might have written before that one of my favorite Christian writers of modernity is Andree Seu. She writes for a weekly publication we subscribe to, World Magazine. Victoria usually gets the mail before I do and will clandestinely abscond with the most current edition before I know it's in the house. She knows all too well I'll take it and never let it back in her sight. Such is the prudence of those married for over a quarter century. When I do eventually get my grubbies on that periodical, I always flip to the back to find Andree's piece first. Her gift to convey what most of us think but are too afraid to reveal is, no doubt, from above. And her spiritual insight into what Jesus has to offer through our natural course of life is illuminating.

Sometimes Victoria and I wonder, "Where is God?" (I know, some reading this may think, "How could you ask such a question?" It's true - we're fickle.) But isn't this a question that every man and woman has asked at one point in time or another? And it's not limited to those who do not know Him, for even those closest to God have cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1a) Victoria and I may not use these exact same words, but we have asked God similar things. And they are usually uttered to Him when we feel He's not hearing us.

The other day Victoria, the girls and I all went to Barret's high school awards ceremony. We watched as kids, mostly juniors and seniors, walked on the platform to receive recognition for their secondary educational accomplishments. They were all significant in their own right, and Barret proudly received a certificate for high achievement in the field of architecture. Watching from the bleachers I hearkened back to similar days when I was Barret's age, and prayed then that God would use me as He desired to advance His purposes. In my mind I had something else visualized other than what I'm doing now (to "make a living", that is). I suppose I'm not unique in that way. So many pathways, but only one can be taken. So I've asked God, "Where were You, and where have You been? Have you forsaken me?" Deep down I know the answer to those questions, but they still bubble up and I hear myself echo the recording that's played now for years. And when I hear that recording, it sparks a remembrance for me that God's unfolding a story that was written long ago. And I, like you, are part of something much bigger than me (us). And furthermore that He's not forsaken us, that He has heard us, and that He answered us all along.

Which brings me full circle back to my entry paragraph, Andree's article, "Delayed, not denied" (found by clicking on this link, http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16644). The question I ask should not be what I ask (although it's perfectly appropriate to cry out to Him in such a way, and perhaps I should do it even more often than I do). The question I ask myself, not Him, is the question I quote from Andree's piece here, "... how long will you hang on with God?" My answer - "Forever!" Victoria and I have no where else to turn, for Jesus alone possesses the "words of eternal life". (John 6:68c)

"... I conclude from these occurrences that prayer answered instantly is wonderful. But delayed answer makes a better story. And one thing is certain, God is weaving you a story." ~ Andree Seu. Victoria and I might say, "... we conclude from these occurrences that prayer answered accordingly is wonderful. But different answer makes a better story. And one thing is certain, God is weaving us a story."