Heart Throb: Perplexities
The other day as I was reading a very familiar Bible story, I was struck by the thought of the many people in our Bible who, though not understanding circumstances revolving around them, went right on with the responsibilities of their lives, believing God with confidence, that in His time He would make it clear, even often with questions along the way.
Mary and Joseph went to the temple to offer their sacrifice, a pair of young birds, according to the Jewish law. They sought a blessing for their child Jesus. Unbeknownst to them, the Holy Spirit had come upon a devout man named Simeon. The Scriptures say that this devout man took the baby up in his arms "and blessed God, and said, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace . . . mine eyes have seen thy salvation . . . a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of they people Israel" (Luke 2:28-32).
Perhaps the words "a light to lighten the Gentiles" was a mystery to them as even the prophesy, "a sword shall pierce through thine own soul" (v. 35). These are fearful words, but did they bring so much anxiety to Mary that she was thwarted in her role of motherhood? Not according to verse 40 where we are told the child grew and waxed strong. She was a good and focused mother.
How many times are we confronted with perplexing words or events that leave us, for the moment, at a stand-still? Which turn in the road will our responses take us? One path leads to despondency and depression, a turning inside one's self to an indulgence in fear or self-pity, a paralyzing state. Another path points to rebellion, an angry search for a place of blame, perhaps someone to receive our fiery darts of self-justification.
I am reminded of a poem by Francis Anne Kimble who was confronted with the absence of a loved one whether by abandonment or death, I do not know. She asks: What shall I do with all the days and hours that must be counted ere I see your face? . . . Shall I in slumber sleep each weary sense . . . Shall I flee away into past days . . . and cheat myself to forget the present day? . . . How may I teach my drooping hopes to live . . . ? The author then makes a conscious decision. "I will this dreary blank of absence make a noble task-time; and will therein strive To follow excellence, and o'er take more good than I have won since yet I live."
Such a decision must have been similar to the one made by the mother of our Lord. It is the right response in perplexing times - one that will propel us down the right path, one of business and accomplishment based on trust in our God. ". . . it is he who hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture" (Psalm 100). He cares for His own and will bless our perseverance in the face of perplexities.
Abraham was another who was perplexed. God sent him to a new land and subsequently gave him the land for his seed, but Abram had no seed. Years passed and Abram continued in the land, but still there was no evidence as to how God's promise would be fulfilled. One day Abram questioned the Lord and told Him that his only heir was his servant; and the Lord said, "This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come forth out of thine own loins . . ." Still much time and events lapsed before the son Isaac was born. Yet Abram's response was that "he believed in the Lord."
How do we know that Abraham responded in a right way to this long wait, that he busied himself with life's responsibilities in spite of a perplexing situation? We read in Genesis 13:2 "and Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold." Idleness and despondency do not produce wealth. Are the words of our Lord so overused that we fail to realize their impact, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
Verse 31 answers the question: what we eat, what we drink, what we wear. These are the necessities of life. For us ladies, we find a lot more things are necessary for caring for our families which are found in Proverbs 31 in the example of the virtuous woman. These things are the neglected mending basket, the disorganized pantry, the promised special cake not yet baked, the letters that need answering or the phone calls you meant to make last week. In other words the nitty gritties of life that bog us down. We can be going through some serious perplexities and allow them to really upset our lives. Sometimes we just seem paralyzed to keep our normal routines. Until we can see clearly a solution, the best therapy is busyness!
Ask the Lord for a portion of His Word that can steady you while you try to stay busy. How often I have used "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3) and add the next verse "Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."