Then What?
New Year’s Day in northeast Portland began with rain. The eighth day of Christmas, Thursday, January first, was a holiday for most. Yet, many had jobs that demanded their presence.
One of those who had to work even on the holiday was Jeffrey, a former student of 40 years ago and my “computer guru.” For 15 months, he has faithfully worked with me, trying to teach me how to begin and continue a website. Truly, I am indebted to him.
Driving on rain-drenched streets to his job at the post office, he never saw the car coming straight at him and striking the passenger side of his car. “The inside of the car exploded!” he texted. “And the console ended up in the passenger seat!”
He had to be taken from his totally demolished car, which he did not have a chance to see after the accident. Rushed to the nearest hospital, he had no broken bones but internal injuries that have required two operations. No surprise that his latest text ended with “lots of pain, hard to concentrate.”
Of course, he will go to a rehabilitation center when he is discharged from the hospital. But then what? No one knows because the honest answers lie in the future.
In his short story, “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens wisely pictured the future as a gloomy, mysterious entity “shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form….” Indeed, the future is absolutely unknown. And because we cannot know it, we fear it.
However, we can choose to know the One who holds the future, the One who metes it out event by event, cause by cause, and result by result. Knowing the Alpha (Beginning) and the Omega (Ending) takes our focus off the fearsome uncertainties and settles that focus onto a knowable Person who promised, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20).
I cannot give Jeffrey the answers he wants to hear and that I want to speak. But I can tell him of Philippians 3:10 and that in his pain he shares in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. I imagine that both of them were battered and bruised to a similar extent. And it is with the amazing power of the resurrection that healing and answers will come.
Great correlation! I like how you have altered our focus even during one’s suffering. It’s a mindset we all can try to maintain with all the turmoil happening around the world, even since January 1.
Praise God He is in control and that He promises to work all things together for our good!
Well said!
Thanks for the affirmation, Tom. I hope that you and Sue are doing well. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.
I’m so sorry to hear this about your friend/student; horrible way to start a new year for sure. I for one am not the least bit frightened about what the future holds for me, even as a stage 4 cancer patient. What will be will be; I have no expectations and will embrace my new beginning when the time comes 😇
How traumatic for Jeffrey; physically, emotionally and mentally. We are drawn to him in a sincere desire to minimize his pain, confusion and like you, assure him that everything “will be fine,” but we can’t because no one on earth knows the future. I think the most devastating injuries are those affecting our heart-soul which seem to bear witness to amount of trust we have in God’s faithfulness and promises. His Word tells us that His plan is for our very best (Jeremiah 29:11) a message “emphasizing present faithfulness and future restoration. It’s a promise that God has good intentions, even in difficult times, and encourages seeking Him with all our heart.” May Jeffrey do just that and God will bring His inexpressible peace, comfort and contentment even without all the answers in place.
yes we may not know what tomorrow holds but if we know Jesus, then we know who holds our tomorrows
I’m thankful for your comment, Patricia. Thanks for reading and responding. That’s the blessing of encouragement for me.