Bereavement is hard to bear unless one be in the Lord's ways. Who wants to accept that loss and suffering are all in God's purpose? Who would accept that defeat may actually be victory in God's standards? Yet, we the canal men are only thankful to God when we are healthy and wealthy and wise and with loving families and buddies. But when life is not so rosy and we are vulnerable, we automatically question God.
Yet, the likes of Abraham on the way to Mt Horeb to sacrifice his only son Isaac are a thankful lot that God had initially given them the child that He now wants or has taken home to the better place. Again, the likes of Job lying in the ashes after the loss of his wealth and death of his children and the abandonment by his wife and ridicule from his friends are the thankful lot who still rejoice when papers do not arrive and jobs disappear and the partner has become hell itself. So too are the likes of Joseph Jacob in jail rejoicing after Potiphar's wife has tempted them so sex and they have resisted.
They are able to rejoice in the turmoil because through it all, they have learnt to trust in Jesus that nothing is wrong in His ways. All is well however crooked it appears to the world.
Babu's heart is with the Coventry couple whose encouragement goes miles further to show how we must trust God despite all we are going through. The good God who gave them the son knows all and He has the best plans for them, and that is His promise.
Through it all, through it all... we have to trust in Jesus.
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