Well, I had said that I was going to open my Bible to a random verse and blog about it, but I haven't really done that, so I will try today while the baby is playing on the floor.
Psalm 23:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength, He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."
This psalm is pretty straight forward. It tells believers to follow the Lord's word, and they will have eternal life. Following God will lead to "green meadows" and "peaceful streams" which I interpret to be contentment and peace. There are other obstacles in life other than death, but the psalmist here chooses to use death because strength, courage, and wisdom cannot overcome death when it is inevitable (unlike other obstacles: financial strain, failing relationships, poor career decisions, etc). We are told to not be afraid of death because God will protect and comfort during this difficult time. In the last paragraph of the psalm, it seems like God is a host; welcoming followers in his home.
When I read this, I am reminded of a quote that my friend loves. She read it in the book THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD by Kushner. This is the quote: "So too the psalmist [Psalm 23] is saying to us, When bad things happen to you, the challenge is not to explain them, to justify them, or even to accept them. The challenge is to survive them and go on living" (The Lord Is My Shepherd p. 110).
How many times do we try to explain or justify things when things do not go as planned? I know it has happened to me and everyone I know at some point in time. I can think of several specific instances (for me specifically, my family and friends tried to justify my miscarriage as "something was wrong with the baby" or "it was for the best" or "you needed to take better care of yourself" or "you weren't that far along" or "you could have had a rough pregnancy" or "your baby was probably very very sick")
I do challenge those of you who are having a difficult time to survive this time without trying to explain why this could be happening to you-- whether it be financial strain, poor career choices, death or a loved one, or a failing relationship-- and continue living the best life possible with a positive, caring, kind, loving attitude.
Comments (2)
Wow! That post is EXACTLY what I needed thank you so much for your encouraging post. Now look you are going to be a mommy of 2 little ones not just one two! God is truly blessing you guys!
Well said! Everyone should maintain a positive attitude and have God with you!