Dear G-d, Where Are You? G-d is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1 Mom, I didnt make it. Please pray for me. I just feel confused about G-d. My heart sank. I felt my daughters deep hurt. I felt it as clearly as if it were my own. I know what it feels like to want something so badly and have that dream shut down. That door close. That opportunity slip away. Shed been talking about going for this special achievement at summer camp for three years. Every time we talked about camp, she talked about going for this achievement. But she wasnt old enough to try until her fourth year at camp. Finally, this was going to be her year. She met every challenge and could see the goal in sight ... until the fire. She was supposed to light a campfire with nothing but three matches, one small square of newspaper and a few sticks of wood. She struck the first match and held it up to the newspaper. It didnt ignite. She struck the second match and held it up to the newspaper. It still didnt ignite. She stared at the third and final match. Knowing that a big part of the challenge was teaching the kids how to communicate with G-d and fully rely on Him, shed been praying through every stage of the challenge. But now, she didnt just pray — she cried out to G-d. Please help me, G-d. Please, she mouthed as she struck the third match. She held the flame up to the paper once again and watched in complete disbelief. The matchstick burned but the paper did not. As soon as the final match burned out, she lowered her head in defeat, and gave all her wood to the girls still in the challenge. When I arrived at camp to pick her up a week later, she asked if we could go sit by ourselves and process this situation. The fact that she didnt get the camp honor was not what was bothering her the most. What was bothering her the most was not experiencing G-ds power like the other girls. They all had stories of G-d answering their cries for help in amazing ways that carried them all the way through the challenge. Mom, I didnt get that with G-d. Why? This was a tough question. One of those questions as a mom that you dont want to mess up in answering. I asked her to help me recall every step of her challenge so we could intentionally look for G-ds hand. As she recalled every part, I listened intently for anything unusual and unexplainable. And when she got to the fire, I found it. There was no reason her newspaper shouldnt light. None at all. Everyone elses paper lit. Hers should have. But it didnt. Honey, that can only be explained by G-d intervening. He was there. He was listening. And we just have to trust that there was some reason you shouldnt have continued that challenge. We may not know that reason, but we can certainly trust G-d was right there ... protecting you ... loving you ... revealing His power to you. She put her head on my shoulder, You really think so, Mom? I whispered, I know so. I know so because I trust the truth G-d has given me. Truths like these are anchors that hold me to the reality of who G-d is: He is the One in whom I find comfort and reassurance: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 13:05:13 +0000
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