It’s been a heavy week here on the ol’ blog. Really, it’s just been a heavy week, amen? As much as we’d like it, all weeks are not going to be “goodness and light.” Although, I’ve found that even the worst are still shot through with both, if we’re willing to see it.
I’ve been re-reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I read it years ago, and, after hearing a quote from the book in a sermon recently, I thought it bore picking back up. Briefly, the story of the Dutch Christian ten Boom family centers around their hiding Jews and Dutch Underground in their house/watch shop in Holland, during the German occupation of that country. They were betrayed to the Gestapo, and consequently several of their family were taken to concentration camps where they all died, except Corrie. She lived out the rest of her life traveling with her message of hope, forgiveness, and the truth that “there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
With the election freshly behind us, and the newspaper emblazoned with pictures of our new president and the “change” that is eminent, certainly we are all looking toward the future – specifically, the next four years. There are many that are fearful of what lies ahead, and, while I refuse to give into fear, I will admit that I’ve been dealing with bouts of uncertainty and dread about the whole issue. Last night, I read the following excerpt from the book, which details an event that occurred during the first week of the German Occupation of Holland:
And it was then that I had the dream. It couldn’t have been a real dream because I was not asleep. But a scene was suddenly and unreasonably in my mind. I saw the Grote Markt, half a block away, as clearly as though I were standing there, saw the town hall and St. Bavo’s and the fish mart with its stair-stepped facade.
Then as I watched, a kind of odd, old farm wagon – old fashioned and out of place in the middle of a city – came lumbering across the square pulled by four enormous black horses. To my surprise I saw that I myself was sitting in the wagon. And Father, too! And Betsie! There were many others, some strangers, some friends. I recognized Pickwick and Toos, Willem and young Peter. All together we were slowly being drawn across the square behind those horses. We couldn’t get off the wagon, that was the terrible thing. It was taking us away – far away, I felt – but we didn’t want to go…
“Betsie!” I cried, jumping up, pressing my hands to my eyes. “Betsie, I’ve had such an awful dream!”
I felt her arm around my shoulder. “We’ll go down to the kitchen where the light won’t show, and we’ll make a pot of coffee.”
The booming of the bombs was less frequent and farther away as Betsie put on the water. Closer by was the wail of fire alarms and the beep of the hose trucks. Over coffee, standing at the stove, I told Betsie what I had seen.
“Am I imagining things because I am frightened? But it wasn’t like that! It was real. Oh Betsie, was it a kind of vision?”
Betsie’s finger traced a pattern on the wooden sink, worn smooth by generations of ten Booms. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “But if God has shown us bad times ahead, it’s enough for me that He knows about them. That’s why He sometimes shows us things, you know – to tell us that this too is in His hands.”
Oh for that kind of faith! We may have bad times ahead, or we may not. We don’t know what the outcome of the next four years will be, any more than we know what the outcome of tomorrow will be. However, we’ve been given a “vision” of what it could look like, with the political unrest and war in the Middle East, the stock market, the housing market, and a man elected to our highest seat of power who may not hold to the tenants which many of us deem precious. Perhaps, like wise Betsie concluded, this vision is NOT to scare us to death, but to tell us that, “this too is in His hands.”
Is it “enough for us that He knows”? That He is going ahead of us? That we can go nowhere that He hasn’t already been?
I’m claiming that it is enough today.
I’m praying that you are, too.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
Melinda, thanks so much for passing this great story of faith on to us as well as the scripture and reminder that God is going ahead of us. Your post is just one more way God is giving me peace about our nation’s current situation. Thank you!
Melinda, my comment has nothing to do with this post, but I had to let you know what a blessing this blog was to me! I stopped by after seeing you comment on Lysa Tyrkheurst’s post today. When I landed on your page, I saw, to the right, something that said click here for a love story or something…lol. Now, I don’t know what possesed me to click the pic of you and your husband, but I’m SO glad that I did! The journey was beautiful! I read each post and cried reading each post. God is amazing and faithful and I thank Him that I ran across your blog and was able to see a couple truly in love with each other, who has made it last. I am 24 years old, and this year had both the best of times and worst of times for me in the area of relationships. I am holding on to my faith and know that at God’s set time, my prayers will be answered and my patience, faith, love and hope will all pay off! Thank You!
Oh my…oh my. Tears streaming. One of your best, friends. One of your best.
I think that the dust is settling, and I am beginning to get some parameters around my faith, but I won’t lie. It’s been shaken, and I have some fear. I know that there are those who are celebrating for a myriad of well-intentioned reasons, but still my heart wanders and wonders…
and yes, fully believes that God has seen from beginning to end and knew this day was upon us. We are strong enough to march it through, for we are an Easter people with an Easter perspective and we hold the living Spirit of God within our very frames.
On my knees for Washington and for men’s and women’s hearts to render themselves as humble beneath the guiding light of Calvary’s surrender.
Love this so much. Makes me want to find a good book tonight and curl up.
Ummm. Ummm. Ummm.
peace~elaine
I absolutely love the Ten Boom family. There is a certain peace that overcomes me any time I read one of their books. Good post.
THIS is the best post I’ve seen on the topic. It does summarize how I’ve been feeling; thank you for the passage from The Hiding Place. I didn’t hang my hopes on either candidate–I think there are yet hard times to come no matter which man resides in the White House. I have always–and will continue to–found peace in the fact that God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And while so often we’d not choose His exact path to get from point A to point B, when we do get to the place He’s prepared we’re always glad we followed, even if it was a challenging journey.
Through out the blogs that I frequent, God is truly pouring out to us, that He is God, He is sovereign, and that His hand is not off of us, His sons and daughters.
So I place my trust in Him, and may He find me, willing-able-trusting and obedient as HE IS FAITHFUL.
Love,
Yolanda
Excellent post! I so want to have that kind of faith as I follow after a faithful God!
What an amazing story of faith and trust in God. It’s so good to know our Heavenly Father is preparing the paths for us to walk on. God is good!
Sonya
I’ve been resting in the fact that God knows what will happen and wins in the end. I just pray that I’m strong enough to stand up to whatever may come our way in the coming years.
Thank you for sharing this, it did help me remain focused that God will see us through no matter what may happen.
Blessings to you!