Hello again!
I offer you another reflection from Dr. Dale Meyer in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene...
Hurricane Irene has left. I keep thinking about the old song. “Irene, goodnight. Irene, goodnight. Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene, I’ll see you in my dreams.”
Millions are seeing Irene in their dreams, Irene the nightmare. My extensive scholarly research… not really, I just went to Wikipedia, reveals the song has been recorded about 30 times. The first was in 1934 by some performer named “Lead Belly;” the last in 2009 by “Deer Tick.” “Deer Tick?” What strikes me is that disaster, troubles and suffering come again and again and again, just like all the performances of “Good Night, Irene.”
How we receive suffering reveals much about our faith. It’s like looking in a mirror. “This is unfair; this shouldn’t happen to me,” says we have some righteousness, some merit before God. Taking it, granted no one wants to suffer, but taking it as someone who has no inherent righteousness before God reveals someone totally passive, ready for God’s grace to His fallen, weak creatures. Does suffering make you assert your righteousness before God…or your dependence?
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. No merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
In the midst of pain or difficulty in our lives which often doesn't have a good explanation, do we come to God asserting our rights ("I don't deserve this!") or asking for His mercy? There are no such things as entitlements with God, only the promise that He will never go back on His Word. Cling to His promises!
