Quote: Originally posted by sleepy lobster on July 16, 2004
Toney I have just said a prayer for your dad, but you must remember that God has a plan for all of us from the time of our conception. He does things in his own way and time. May God be with you at this time.
the most accurate response yet.
God has never looked away during any portion of your dads life, and despite his physical infirmities as of late, God still has his hand on your dads life. right now, he is tapping him (and us) .....on the shoulder (figuratively speaking), and getting him ready for eternity ..........dventually. when that will happen, only God knows both the timing and the method. but it will happen for all of us. even knowing that, it doesn't mean that i don't feel your emotional pain, because i do. i hurt when someone else is hurting.
Jesus wept even though he knew that he was going to raise lazurus from the dead. he wept because he "felt" the pain that ensues from the emotional effects of death, and the amount of grief that is shared thru a non agreed upon seperation between those that love one another. despite his seemingly "unfair" plans at times, he weeps for us as well. knowing that someday, this "wrong" in life will one day be "a-righted". no more sorrow - no more tears - no more sickness - and no more death.
it will never be the "quantity" of anyones life, but the "quality" that matters. because we are emotionally engaged, we mostly look toward "length" as the barometer of whether God is good in a situation like this. not true .....as he is good all the time. this life is a dress rehearsal for the next. it is not the end, but only just the beginning. it is only when we "see" from that perspective, that we can gain a semblence of peace during a time of this emotional magnitude.
one day, we all will be "healed" .......... for right now we must endure the limitations that God himself places on us for his purposes if he "chooses" not to lift them. sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't and it is never derived from a "lack of faith", nor the right "amount" of people praying for your dad. God doesn't have a "quota" of the number of people in mind before he makes a determination on what to do about your dad, he has already made that determination before your dad was ever born. the knowledge of that is where we get our comfort. that God is in control despite anything or anyone. that doesn't mean that we don't pray collectively for your dad because we should, because in doing so, we demonstrate HIS love and comfort to each other, while aknowledging his sovereignty.
so in keeping with the way God works, i will be praying for your dad and for you and for everyone peripherally involved, as you adjust to whatever his plan for your dads life entails. that way i know, you are guaranteed peace.
the ultimate "healing" ......lies ahead. it is not here and now ....but there is peace available for us to see us thru until then.
"your grace is sufficient unto us o' Lord"
may God grant you sufficient peace, commensurate with your circumstances.
........"v"