When the World Spins Backward

Years ago, my maternal grandmother died in her sleep. She was 87. I cried. I missed her (I still do). But it was expected. It is just the way things are–the natural process of life. 

I can accept that. I can accept aging as, not always welcome, but inevitable. We are born, grow for 30 or-so years, maintain for another 20 to 30, and then slowly decline for the last 20 to 30-plus, finally gathered to our Lord in a peaceful goodbye. Just like Grandma. This is the way it is “supposed” to happen. 

But often life and death are not tied up in that nice little bundle of expectation. Sometimes the world spins backward. 

Often life & death are not tied up in a nice bundle of expectation. Sometimes the world spins backward. Click To Tweet

Sorrows of This Life

What is difficult to accept, what causes my muscles to tense and my mind to scream denial, is when the natural process is flipped on end. When what should be isn’t and what shouldn’t be is.

What causes my stomach to lurch and my blood to run cold and then boil is when babies are left in trashcans to die, when someone’s desire for self-satisfaction destroys a child, when a tragic accident steels away loved ones too soon.

What knocks me to my knees and then makes me wish I could forget, is when good people die young and the wicked are left to roam the streets, when pain and suffering grip loved ones in its iron embrace, when no reason is reasonable and nothing makes sense.

When the world spins backward, when the order of life gets off kilter, I want to runaway and hide. 

Tragedy builds on tragedy—sorrow on sorrow. In my angst, it is tempting to question, berate, and scream at God. But that won’t change anything. And doesn’t really make me feel better either. 

But There Is Hope

God is sovereign. His thoughts are not my thoughts and my ways are not His ways. (Isaiah 55:8)

Until the Lord returns to cast out all evil and establishes “new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell” (2 Peter 3:13), the unimaginable will still happen. Car accidents will still occur. Tornadoes will still strike. Children will still die. Pain will still be present.

And…

God will still be God.

Abba Father will still embrace His children.

Yahweh will still extend His mercy.

The gracious Lord will still pour out His blessings on us.

I AM will still control all.

The Shepherd will still search out the lost.

The Lion of Judah will still hate sin.

Jesus Christ will still have shed His blood and given His life so that you and I may live forever with Him.

It is easy to be hyper-focused on the horrible events, the tragic happenings, the ugliness that surround us. But when we do, nothing is ever lovely, nothing is ever good.

And with God there is always beauty.

With God there is always beauty. Click To Tweet

As I struggle with the tragedy and heartache, sickness and pain that surround me, I am drawn to the comforting lyrics and beautiful truths of this simple hymn based on Isaiah, “Though the Mountains May Fall” by Dan Schutte. 

May we always remember, whatever happens–whether we understand a circumstance or not, whether we like it or not–the Lord’s love and peace will never leave us.

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens…

“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

Reflections: What circumstances are you struggling to make sense of today? How can I pray for you? 

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Linking with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience in 2013 for my Joy Dare list  for Multitude Mondays (#1788–1808, read them all by clicking here):