When I was a little kid growing up in Minnesota (the land of 10,000 lakes), we would regularly hear tragic stories about people falling through the ice into the frigid water. In my little mind, what was most perplexing to me was when pickup trucks or cars would fall through the ice as their owners tried to cross on the ice. I would think, "why would they do something so ridiculous? Don't they realize that something that heavy could fall through the ice?"
I've become so much more aware through this experience with Ian that life is as fragile as that thin ice. People go on with their lives as if their safety and their lives were a sure thing. Activity and schedules and the demands of life drive people on across the ice, and they don't stop to consider what might happen if the ice breaks. Then, someone does fall through - someone close dies or a car wrecks and lives are torn apart or cancer strikes. I can't imagine not knowing our kind and merciful Savior. I can't imagine not knowing that He died to take my sin. I can't imagine not knowing that because of that death my circumstances are ruled by God for good. I can't imagine not being assured of heaven. This experience is painful enough; I can't imagine not having that confidence in the middle of the pain.
Sometimes I wish that I could appeal to the people passing by us to seriously consider what they're doing. I want to ask them, "what will happen if you fall through the ice as we have? Will you have the assurance that God is weaving all of your circumstances together for good? Do you have the confidence that when you die you will be in heaven?"
Steve
p.s. Ian continues to make very slow progress, and we're adjusting to the new normal. We are very grateful to have him home with us. Please continue to pray for paid staff for overnight and weekends. Pray that he would talk to us. Thank you.
1 comment:
I will always remember what you said in a message about the ice in Minnesota, some time ago. It's blessed me time after time, as I've wavered in God's promises. Do you remember? You said that, at times, in the winter, the ice was so thick that you could jump and jump and jump on it, and not fall through. You said that's what a particular promise of God was like. We could throw our entire weight on it, and it would hold us up and fast. I'm sure that you're illustration holds true to all of His promises.
Your new thoughts on the fragility of ice is also a great insight into the fragility of our lives-- and we don't even know it, until we break through the thin, unstable ice that we so often base our days on. I don't want to take anything for granted, and I want to be, always, standing on the thick ice of His Word and His promises.
I'm praying, regularly, that the Spirit would assuage your pain and help you to carry it. I can't imagine....so I pray.
Thank you, Steve
kristi
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