Voice Of The Valley Volume 2 Issue 3 July 1996

We're Oft Made Too Wonder by Robert Hudson

Having recently been exposed to some significant tragedy I have been prompted to give serious consideration to one's reaction in trial. The desperate feeling of ineptness, or helplessness, upon seeing a loved one so deeply shaken has set upon more than I care to remember in the past few months. Upon reflection, and the hearing of much good solace and advice, I have found renewed faith in three sources of comfort. The first is simple and honest sympathy. The brand of sympathy that isn't cluttered with cliches or platitudes, but rather comes from the depth of a caring and aching heart. This lending of sympathy is commanded us when we are told to, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Romans 12:15). The second source of comfort I've depended on is strength. Good and solid strength that comes from the kind exhortation of brethren, the fine example they set, and above all else, the timeless instruction of God's word. In time of sorrow I require more than sympathy, I need strength! I need someone to remind me that God is God, and He is ever with me. In such strength I take refreshment. The third source of comfort I hold valuable is what I chose to expand on in this article; that is the comfort of a godly perspective. One's perspective is the frame through which he views life. We understand a person's point of view largely determines his level of stability, attitude, and demeanor. In time of great loss or strain my perspective shapes how well I endure. One with the God fashioned perspective sees all tragedy in its proper setting. We turn to scriptural examples to prove this. One immediately considers Job, who suffered the loss of all things. When faced with the option of abandoning faith Job reminded himself that, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:21-22). We have other outstanding examples of a godly perspective during suffering: Joseph, Daniel, Jeremiah, Paul, and rising above them all is our blessed Lord about whom it is written: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:2-3). The above examples are indeed timeless and their worth inexhaustible. There is another example of godly perspective well worth our attention. It is one that actually had never occurred to me until recently; during difficult times when my own faith was challenged by a darker point of view. I believe this to be one of the most clear examples of a godly perspective one could find. It is the point of view, or perspective, which was God's in the beginning: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." - Genesis 1:31 This is said at the completion of God's work of creation. It expresses God's delight at His effort and the positive nature of that which He spoke into being. The word "good" used here is a common word called into use to express that which is agreeable or pleasant. In the account of God's creation we find God describing His work as good six distinct times; once at the end of each day's work. Truly, the Divine record wants us to be aware that the Lord God's perspective of His new world and all it held was one of genuine goodness. This is the perspective we must cling to in time of utter heartbreak and fiery trial. For, it is then our minds often turn sour. It is then we often darken our perspective to view the world as gross and ugly. In the moments that quake our souls and test our faith it becomes far too easy to dismiss the still existent quality of goodness God saw in His creation. Far be it from me to dismiss that ugliness and perversion exist in this world. This is a fact that screams its validation daily. We see men act savagely as they destroy the lives of others, we observe acts of nature that dismantle the lives of people in mere moments, we are aware of unpredictable accidents that forever change the lives and torment the memories of innocent people, even whole families. These things exist and they affect us. They tease us with fear before they strike and cripple us with sorrow after they strike. Do these calamities change the fact that God's world is good? Do corrupt men make God's creation corrupt? Do tragic events make God's world hostile? Consider the words of the Psalmist as he responded to a similar question: "There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:6-8 I never want to lose sight of God's goodness. I cannot allow the awful things that occupy certain days of my life to dispel the fundamental confidence that God is good, in His work remains goodness, and His goodness remains a promise steadfast and sure to guide me through the end of my days--regardless of what struggles lay before me. I will close with an encouragement to develop and maintain the godly perspective shown by the man of God in this splendid declaration of faith. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." - Psalm 23:6