Wisdom from a child

 
My young 11-year old friend (emphasis on the old), says that God brings trials into our lives to teach us something. I marvel at the wisdom God gives this girl. I often find her statements coming to mind during life’s fearful events.

For instance, for the past couple of days, my hubby has not felt well. He has a chronic case of CLL, but current symptoms were not related to that. His temperature was up above normal and he complained about his digestive system. For a man who never complains, and because of our ages, this made me think about losing my spouse. It also had me thinking about the purpose of this trial. I knew that it could turn my heart to my own needs and have me selfishly anxious for what would happen to me if he slipped away.

God brought my buddy’s wisdom to mind and prompted me to trust Him and His will. Period. No matter what the future held. No matter what happened to this usually very healthy man. That was what He was teaching me — total trust. At that, the Lord’s peace came. Also, the fever went down, and hubby is feeling better.

Today’s reading is again about finding satisfaction in the Lord. Of course all of us who trust Him enjoy times of prosperity, health, and other blessings, but it is as John Piper writes: “None of us has arrived at perfect satisfaction in God.”

I can be concerned when trials come, but I also “grieve often over the murmuring of my heart at the loss of worldly comforts.” It is in tasting the Lord’s goodness during trials that brings a greater satisfaction. It is in being able to trust Him no matter what. It is being able to say, “Thy will be done” and mean it, even if His will involves loss, pain, and discomfort.

Job comes to mind. After the enemy was allowed to take from him all he had, including his children. . . .  

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20–22)

This response is rare. In today’s world, even the most devout will cry out “WHY” when such things happen even to others, never mind themselves. However, many Christians know that “It is Well with my Soul” was written by a man who lost everything after the great fire in Chicago in 1871 then lost his daughters when the ship they were on sank. How could he even think all was well? Only by totally trusting the Lord.

Piper writes, “I have tasted that the Lord is good. By God’s grace I now know the fountain of everlasting joy, and so I love to spend my days luring people into joy…” because he wants them to be able to say with him:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

And the psalmist adds the reason, for he (David) has also tasted and seen God’s goodness. . . . 

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. (Psalm 27:4–6)

PRAY: Jesus, You have shown me that even a child can understand the reason for trials — and how we need to seek You and welcome Your will to be done, in total trust that Your love is behind everything that happens to us, no matter what. I am a slow learner yet also very thankful that You said that one day the “earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” and “a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)