THE LORD'S HAND

The Lord's hand in our lives ... I was talking with a group of friends lately and one asked about times in our lives where we visibly saw the hand of God. I've been pondering this for a while. I've seen Him in many, many places, many, many times, but, when asked, I couldn't think of any big times. Lots and lots of little times. Times when He has provided what we needed - whether it was monetary or something physical, or even strength to get through something that seemed too tough. Times when His hand surprised me - even though I know that He is there with me day in and day out. 24/7 as they say today!

There were many times when I needed to find a certain item for our children but money was tight. I needed to stay within our budget and it seemed that I would never be able to do just that. But sure enough, I found what was needed and many times it was way better than what I expected! I was assured that He cares about EVERYTHING in His people's lives. Even the seemingly insignificant.

At church this past Sunday I thought of a significant time. It was at my dad's funeral. I was 24, he was almost 54. He was in Northern Ontario, deer hunting with a friend. He was due to arrive home soon. In fact, he came home on the same day that he was due to come home. But he was dead. He and his friend had drowned. We will never know for sure what happened but from the Ontario Provincial Police investigation and his autopsy, they think that his friend broke through the ice while crossing a body of water and dad tried to help. They both drowned.

We were told that they were 'missing' first. That was a Tuesday night. On Thursday morning our fears were realized. They'd both drowned. They'd recovered the bodies. We were told that they would have gone fast. Hypothermia would have set in fast. Within fifteen minutes they would have been sleepy. Then they would have slipped under the water and drowned. That death came fast was some comfort - but every time that I saw a body of water after that, I cringed. Somehow I'd always imagined my dad growing old with our family. I'd never considered that I might never see him grow bald or grow weary in old age.

Now about God's hand - how could anything good come from something so terrible? I was numb at first. I wasn't angry - it was too unbelievable. (Even now it sounds so unbelievable when I tell the story to someone who doesn't know about my dad & his friend. ) On Sunday we sang a hymn which is based on the book of Revelation and the Lord's second coming. How things will be in heaven - seeing the Lord and rejoicing! It talks about the saints being reunited again. The hymn is called 'By the Sea of Crystal' by John Vanderhoven, 1933. (listen to the music online: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btsocrys.htm )

"By the sea of crystal, saints in glory stand,
Myriads in number, drawn from every land.
Robed in white apparel, washed in Jesus' blood,
They now reign in heaven, with the Lamb of God.

Out of tribulation, death and satan's hand,
They have been translated at the Lord's command.
In their hands they're holding palms of victory;
Hark! the jubilant chorus shouts triumphantly:

UNTO GOD ALMIGHTY, SITTING ON THE THRONE,
AND THE LAMB, VICTORIOUS, BE THE PRAISE ALONE.
GOD HAS WROUGHT SALVATION,
HE DID WONDROUS THINGS;
WHO SHALL NOT EXTOL THEE,
HOLY KING OF KINGS?"

What a picture!

How would I be able to sing this at my father's funeral? Sure I was happy that my dad knew the Lord (so did his friend) and I knew that they were in a 'better place' now. But sing THIS?? We did. I belted it out! Tears streamed down as I sang. This was THE LORD giving me the words. Yes, it was hard. But my comfort was in the Lord.

No, I couldn't explain how the Lord could make any good come out of this. I was left without a father. My mom was now a widow. Grandchildren were left without a grandfather. How could any good come of that? But it did.

The church was packed for the funeral. My dad was a bus driver and the transit commission brought a busload of his fellow workers to the funeral. The gospel was preached. Many were touched by our faith. A gift from the Lord. The service was focused on the Lord. Not on my dad. Yes, we remembered dad - but we remembered his Lord more.

Years later (this happened in 1990) I still hear about his funeral. Or about how 'tragic' his death was. His death touched many lives. Even now when I retell the 'story' people gasp. Dad was 'in shape'. He jogged daily. He ate well. His blood pressure was low. But he didn't live to a 'ripe old age'. He died quite young. He was ready.

THAT was and is a comfort to us.

The Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 1 says: "What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. That I, with body and soul, both in life and death (Romans 14:8), am not my own (I Corinthians 6:19), but belong until my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:23, Titus 2:14), who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins (I Peter 1:18, 19, I John 1:7, 2:2, 12), and delivered me from all the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14, I John 3:8, John 8:34-36); and so preserves me (John 6:39, 10:28, 29, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Peter 1:5) that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head (Matthew 10:30, Luke 21:18); yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation (Romans 8:28), wherefore by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:14, Romans 8:16), and makes me heartily willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him (Romans 8:14, 1 John 3:3)."

How did I see the Lord's hand? Mainly from the comfort that He gave me and my family. The peace that we had. The joy that we had during one of the lowest times in our lives. I was fragile at that time - Dad went missing exactly one month after I'd almost died myself (see previous post re: my first miscarriage). I was just beginning to feel hope again. I was finally smiling again. And then this! Later I realized that because of my miscarriage, I was able to have one last time to see dad. You see, dad brought mom over to look after me after I came out of the hospital. Our last visit was a tender one - and they usually weren't very close or tender. Dad joked a lot but serious moments were few. He was glad that the Lord had spared my life. We shared that. And I never saw him alive again.

The Lord was with me through many 'hurdles' surrounding dad's death. Helping mom choose a casket. Helping mom choose his clothes for the visitation and funeral. The visitation. The funeral. The burial. It seemed so cold to leave him there in the ground. The quietness after it all. The anger when the rest of the world was intent on celebrating Christmas and I wasn't ready to (Dad died November 13 and they found his body on the 15th). Through all of the 'hurdles' I had peace. I knew that Q&A in Lord's Day 1 was true. The Bible told me so. And I knew that the Lord's hand was in my life and that He makes NO mistakes! What a comfort that is!