What Does Your Storyline Read?
Sarah Didier Jefferson, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past — things we have heard and known and that our ancestors have passed down to us. We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, His might, and wondrous works He has performed… so that a future generation — children yet to be born — might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands (Psalm 78:2-4, 6-7 ).
“She’s gone. She’s with Jesus,” the text from my husband read. His precious mother had made her transition from this life to eternity with her Creator. That November day, just days after her 71st birthday, felt extra cold and brisk, stealing the breath right from my chest. How could this be real? No goodbyes. No warning. While she had battled cancer, her death was unexpected for all of us.
During this same time, my mother was battling what doctors initially thought was a bacterial infection that she couldn’t seem to shake. I went by her house to take her some things she had requested, and it was very obvious she needed immediate medical attention.
On the way to the emergency room, all I could pray was, “Lord, I trust You. Lord, I trust You. I trust You.” A prayer of the overwhelmed. A prayer when there’s so much you could pray, all that surfaces is surrender to the One who holds it all.
As I sat there in the wee hours of the morning, watching my mother struggle to breathe, restless in pain, my mind was also reflecting on the sudden passing of my mother-in-law just days before. “Lord, I trust You. I trust You.”
When your world feels like a snow globe shaken and swirling about, what story will you tell? When you can’t see what God is up to when you are being stripped bare of all you hold dear, right in those moments of uncertainty — who will you say that He is?
I wait for the Lord; I wait and put my hope in His word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning — more than watchmen wait for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6).
The truth is, we can only put our hope in His word if we are regularly feasting on His word. These beautiful, hard stories in Scripture lead us to see our need for Jesus while also inviting us to know the unchanging attributes of God.
In an age where digital access to Scripture is a few swipes away, I fear many of us are wandering around, guests of the banquet starving simply because we will not stop and fix ourselves a plate. Psalm 34:8 tells us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!” How can we develop an appetite for the things of God if we aren’t “tasting” the things of God?
Even now, as I write this, my mother’s story is still playing out five months later. Her health issues are still unknown, and we are currently waiting on the results of her recent bone marrow biopsy. Yet, without any results, regardless of what the future holds, even in the wake of losing my mother-in-law, I can tell you my God did not fail.
Yes, I can look all throughout the pages of Scripture and see a sovereign God whose plans and purposes accomplished His will. I can see the fingerprints of a covenant-keeping God and His faithfulness to an unfaithful people. I see the God who sees His people and cares about what concerns them, providing every single thing they needed so that they lacked nothing. But these aren’t just good or inspiring stories we get to read. He is Immanuel, God with us even now! And so it has been in every season of my life too.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
When life swirls about with heartache and uncertainty, those dark and piercing hours of struggle, do not neglect your time in the word. He will faithfully meet you there. But we must also develop the habit of looking back on God’s past faithfulness and allow it to fuel us in our current times. It is in the very darkest of days, the driest of deserts that I have seen God with such profound clarity.
Perhaps this is why in Psalm 55:6-8 David yearned for the desert saying:
If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly far away and be at rest. I would fly away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm (Psalm 55:6-8).
Or, in Job’s suffering, he boldly declares:
I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you (Job 42:5).
While we would never choose the heartaches of this life, seeing Jesus in the midst of them all brings purpose to them all. Determine now that you will not miss the beauty of Jesus in your current hard. Allow the character of our unchanging God to be the storyline so that future generations might know and see the friend we have in Jesus.
PRAYER
Oh Lord God, our times are in Your hands (Psalm 31). Give us a fresh vision of You in these hard times and seasons. Oh, that this renewed sight would cause us to be a people whose faith fuels the future generations to trust You, Jesus. Only You can transform our pain into eternal purpose. We trust you, Lord.
More free resources for help hope & healing:
Anchoredhope.co Biblically grounded, clinically informed virtual counseling. We offer convenient and confidential virtual counseling with theologically educated and professionally trained counselors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sarah Didier Jefferson is married to Curtis Jefferson and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins. Before she was a mom, Sarah worked in public relations in the sports industry. Since having her children, Sarah has written web content for a variety of companies and ministries. She is an Atlanta native, but calls Franklin, Tennessee home. Sarah is a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee. When she's not writing or blogging, Sarah enjoys running and hiking the trails of middle Tennessee and spending time with her busy family.
Readers can follow me on the following platforms: @sarahjeffersonwrites on Instagram and Facebook sarahjeffersonwrites.com
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Monday, 22 May 2023.
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