“For my ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts, declares the Lord.” … Isaiah 55:8
Disappointment with God … We learn to anticipate set-backs as a natural part of life. Parents teach their children that life isn’t always fair, and we grow up learning to accept some level of disappointment in our lives. But, there are times in life where “disappointment” would be putting it mildly.
My cousin’s wife just found out that her cancer is back after just six months. The doctor had indicated a three-year remission. Our daughter’s childhood friend recently lost her baby after years of infertility and IVF. She was able to hold him for just a few short moments. Why God? To quote Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton, “There are moments that the words don’t reach, there is suffering too terrible to name.”
And we are left stunned, hurting, and angry with God. How does one go on after the unimaginable hits you? Why does God’s permissive will allow such suffering? When I read my cousin’s wife’s post in Caring Bridge yesterday morning which announced the return of her cancer, the verse quoted above from Isaiah hit my mind. We will never completely understand the “why”, at least not this side of heaven.
Over Easter we talked about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus models the servitude he calls upon us to do. We are literally called to care, an essential part of our Christian walk. When friends, family, and even strangers are dealing with their own “unimaginables”, we are called to stand with them – to comfort, sit in silence with them, feed them, and to pray. Dear Lord, help us to know how to minister in times of utter disappointment, when words simply won’t reach.
Blessings to you this week,
Diana Kongkeattikul
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