Questions or answers?

Us men want to fix things. We don’t mind problems as long as we can find the answers fairly quickly. We run into difficulties when the solution to a problem is not an answer, it’s a process. The solution to something like addiction may be to go on a journey and see where it leads us.

We may need the courage to go on a quest, not knowing where we will end up. It may involve leaving behind things we love and only taking with us what is necessary for the journey. 

A few years ago I watched my brother die of cancer. I was with him every day for the last month of his life. During that time he came to faith in a wonderful way. I prayed like I had never prayed before and he still died. After holding him as he took his last breath I went home and took up my Bible. I read the last few chapters of the book of Job where God confronts Job about what he knows.  I read this out loud so that every angel and demon could hear me as I said the lines: “Surely I spoke of things I do not understand, things too wonderful for me to understand.”(Job 42).

I did not understand why this had happened, and I was OK with not understanding. We are not supposed to understand everything. It is arrogant to assume we can. God is God. I grieved, but I did not let grief throw me into an emotional pit. 

Soldiers get orders not information. The word is a lamp unto my feet – not a torch. We want to know what we are going to meet along the way but the fact is we don’t. So take courage and go on the journey. Take up the quest to find the truth. As the Lord told Joshua as he entered the promised land: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)