Dear Bruce; Laughing THROUGH the Darkness

Dear Bruce,

As a believer, I have been through a lot in my life.  Just when I think I passed one big test and can now take a breather, another one comes along.  Actually, it seems like the tests get bigger over time.  Each time I think I have mastered the whole trusting God thing, I fall short again.  Does the testing ever end?  Do I ever get to coast for a while?  Right now I am facing the biggest test of my life, and I am not sure I have the strength, desire or determination to win this one.  Help!

Lee Ann

Lee Ann,

We ALL find ourselves there.  Even the great Patriarchs of faith endured this reality.

Earlier in the week I wrote regarding those situations in life life that tend to turn us into theological pessimists.  The recurring reality of our own failures, the brutality of others, and the often cruel realities of life can all lead us to a place of bitter and questioning laughter.  As we saw in the story of Abraham and Sarah, however, we can take heart in the truth that God is able to accomplish that which we never could on our own.  Just as God, when Sarah and Abe were beyond the “season of pleasure” (that’s the Biblical term), promised, and delivered (pun intended) a child (Isaac) to them, He is still able, amidst our cynicism and doubt, to bring about good in our lives when all seems lost.

One would think that after testing the faith and belief of Abraham and Sarah with the promise of a son during a season in life which made such a promise ridiculous from a human standpoint that God would give them a break and all would be smooth sailing from there on, right?  After all, the gig was almost up for those old folks.  In fact, when you look closely at the promise made to them, Isaac was the one through whom an entire people, a nation, would arise.  The real shocker in this story is that after God sees to it that the son is born (despite Abe and Sarah laughing in His face), something more ridiculous is requested of them.

The testing of faith was not done by any stretch for Abe and Sarah, and it was just beginning for the new son.  That very son, given at a time when Sarah’s womb was shut down for good and Abe had no access to Viagra, and the one through whom a historic lineage was to flow through, was to be put upon the chopping block of sacrifice.   God commanded Abraham to do the unthinkable.

The act requested is enough on its own merit to garner utter astonishment.  Taking the life of one’s own son is no laughing matter, to be sure.  Such a request would strike horror, confusion, and misery in the heart of anyone, even the most faith filled follower of God.  What was once cynical laughter had been turned into profoundly joyful laughter upon the birth of this little guy, and now that joyous laughter was being transformed into a cry so deep we cannot comprehend it.  What is staggering about the request, beyond the father/son realities is that God is actually requesting that Abraham slaughter the promise of God to bring an entire people from this son.  He is asking the Patriarch to kill an entire nation with the thrust of a knife, and the kindling of a fire.

Abraham had to be thinking, “O.K., let me get this straight.  God gave me a son when humanly speaking it could not happen.  He told me that the son was born in order than a nation might be born through him.  Now, He is telling me to kill my son and thereby destroy the hope for the nation He promised.  Am I missing something?”

Can you imagine the mental gymnastics that must have been going on here inside this father of faith?  Yet, God said, in a nutshell, “Trust me.”  God was testing Abraham.  But through His test of Abraham He was testing and preparing Isaac (he would no doubt reflect on this one the rest of his life if he survived) for a life of faith and for the leadership of a people.  Moreover, God was preparing one of the most seminal moments in the history of people of faith, knowing full well that for the remainder of history followers of The Way would look upon this moment with awe.

What Abraham needed to know, and what we need to know today amidst all of our tests, is that God provided a way in the past, and He is able and willing to provide a way now and in the future.  The miracle of Isaac’s birth had to have been the difference maker which inspired Abe to make the trek to the altar of sacrifice with his son of promise.  Remember, God had asked Abraham amidst his laughter, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  Isaac’s birth answered that question in profound ways.  The victories God has brought into our lives in the past are to be the benchmarks which provide us with faith for the now and for the future.  Each test builds upon the other and are to make us into the people God wants us to be.  At each juncture of testing the question comes anew, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

There are no moments in which we just put the theological gas pedal on cruise control.  We were created to experience Him in ever increasing ways.  We were designed to live life to the full.  You can’t do that on cruise control.  Mediocrity leads to boredom, emotional fatigue, and life without passion.  We were made for something much more grand than that.

Just as God provided for Abraham and Isaac (in the last moment possible, thereby testing their faith to the limit) upon that altar, so likewise, He will provide for you in the moment of testing.  Even in those moments when it appears the very dreams of God for your life are dying (I have been there)…He is there, and He is at work.  You may not see it, feel it, or want it…  BUT GOD.  When the test is through, you and many around you will stand in awe at the power of God and His ability to work wonders.  It is with this thought and promise in mind that we are able to laugh through the darkness of testing.

Bruce Smith

Optimuslife.org    (to donate click on the “donation” link at optimuslife.org)

This entry was posted on 14. March 2008 at 12:14 and is filed under Dear Bruce. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.