“You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” – James 5:11
This verse will forever be connected in my mind with our precious Ruby Jean. I do not know how many times I quoted it over the few years of
losses and
longing that led up to her arrival. I needed to remind myself of Gospel truths and the character of God as my
faith was shaken and trust in Him was so weak. But God evidenced His mercifulness and compassion even in His patience with me. I took comfort in the purposes God had for Job, and knew that if God helped Job remain steadfast through all his unbelievable testing, He certainly would help me too by His grace.
It is our nature to be unthankful and forgetful. It’s yet another evidence of our pride and self-centeredness instead of God-centeredness, I suppose. I have thought of the 10 lepers who Jesus mercifully healed as I thought about what this day a year ago meant to our family. Here’s an excerpt from Luke 17:
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
In an effort not to waste the circumstances God sovereignly brings into our lives, today we turn back and praise God with a loud voice and fall on our faces and give thanks to Him! He was good in the taking and the giving. And although many dear friends and family have been called upon to endure harder and longer trials in this regard, this was one of the struggles God has given us stewardship of, and we glory in Him as we remember today His compassion and mercifulness to us through it. Thank you, Lord!
Happy birthday to our precious Ruby! We love you and pray that someday you will know and understand firsthand how great God is!
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