“When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb.”
Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham **Spectacular carving is done by Paul Weaver on display at Lehman’s Hardware. If you ever get a chance to see his display, do! It is AMAZING!
Happy Ending
I’m a happy ending kinda gal. Books and movies without one just aren’t for me. I want the underdog to prevail, problem to be resolved, dream to be realized, sickness to be cured, and love to never end. But guess what? That’s what I wish MY life were like too! But alas, as we all know, real life doesn’t always have a happy ending. The plot of our lives often includes loss, unsurmountable challenges, failure, death, and broken relationships. Hardly the feel-good scenario I desire.
I know that like me, you can recount chapters in your life where the result was not as hoped or prayed for. They’re the ones we often don’t want to “reread.” I’ve been struggling for a while with a couple in my life that ended anything but happily. To be honest, I’ve been wondering why the Author would have written them this way.
Then, as often happens, the plot thickens….
Sitting in church yesterday the Pastor began reading her chosen scripture: John 9:1-41. It was verse 3 that caught my attention. The disciples were questioning Jesus about a tragedy, an unhappy ending in a young man’s life. They wanted to know why he’d been born blind. It’s the kind of question I’ve been asking myself. Maybe you’ve wondered something similar too. They had their own theories but here is what Jesus said:
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 (NLT)
“So the power of God could be seen.” As these words sunk in, I realized how that changed the young man’s challenging story. Then it hit me, how does MY story change if instead of saying those unhappy, disappointing, devastating endings “just aren’t for me,” I delve into those chapters to discover how God’s power was displayed in each of them? That’s just what I’ve been doing since then and while I didn’t realize it at the time, God’s might is written throughout it all. It feels as if I can proclaim along with the man God healed, “But this I know, I was blind, and now I can see!” (vs. 9:25)
There’s no doubt that our life stories will take twists and turns we wish it didn’t and we may struggle to get through chapter after chapter, but, when we focus on the fact that the circumstances we find ourselves in can be used to show the world the power of God through us, it can change our outlook and the outcome completely. Yep, I DO love a happy ending! Don’t you?
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 (NLT)
“Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open My Eyes by Clara H. Scott
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