When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. - Psalm 126
You did it once, Lord. Would you please do it again? I'm sure that the thought has run through the minds of many Christians: what does it take to get God to act? Sometimes he acts so unexpectedly--when we weren't looking yet there he is, stepping in and getting us out of some unbearable situation. Other times he doesn't act even when the situation seems exactly the same to me, or I am even more desperate.
I know. I have prayed these prayers, reminding God how much we and everyone else could not believe what happened. But then the next time, when there is a situation where it seems he ought to have the same interest level in rescuing me, he does nothing. Why? I don't know. I know that I have opened up my heart to him and asked him to check all my motives. I have doubted my own sincerity. I have offered all sorts of weird bargains when he didn't answer the way I thought he should. Still no movement.
All we have is the author's promise: "like streams in the Negev [the desert] Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." God moves so dang slowly sometimes that I'm sure I'll be dead before he finally answers the phone. But the promise is that when God does answer our tears, there will be joy. Streams weren't something that are expected in the desert. I guess his answers come from a direction we didn't expect because we thought it was dry and dead. Where is that?
How many times have we asked how that happens? "He will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Rev. 21:4) How does that work, God? He doesn't say. I certainly don't expect to forget those years, but maybe God's answer changes us so that we see better who he is. I don't know. It's one of the mysteries. But I'm willing to find out.
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