As woman, we all love the stories that end with these words, "and they all lived happily ever after." We long to live in the happily ever after time and somehow we expect that to happen on earth in our everyday life. But, often we fail to see it.
I've been studying the life of Abigail in I Sam. 25. What an amazing woman! She was married to a foolish man, Nabal, and encountered David acting foolishly in a situation. I just wonder how many times she may have asked herself, "Where is the happily ever after?'
These last 6 months have been trying times for our family - our daughters and their husbands. Difficult diagnosis, job situations, house to sell, relocation, more job situations and on and on it has seemed to go. Honestly, I have felt a lots like Habakkuk. He asked the Lord lots of questions and he really just didn't understand what God was doing in his life. But God replied and said, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Even if God explained all He is doing in my life and in the lives of my daughters, I doubt I would understand it all. Habakkuk didn't. The Bible says that God's ways aren't our ways and His thoughts aren't our thoughts. So what am I doing and what must I do in my current situation that surely isn't "happily ever after."
Well, the answer is in Habakkuk - I've learned to love this book. In Chap. 3:17-19 he gives the answer to what I must do in the meantime.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.
So, I will rejoice! He is an ever present God. Emmanuel. My Shield and Strong Tower. He also reminds me that this is not our home. "Happily ever after" is coming. In the meantime I am to rejoice. Count my blessings. Rejoice over each victory. Glance at my problems and gaze on Jesus. I must give Him my disappointments, difficulties, trials and triumphs and KNOW that Romans 8:28 is more than just words in the Bible. I MUST "KNOW that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Do I live this way every moment of the day? Sure wish I could answer "yes" but I'm afraid that's not the case. I have times of being overwhelmed and wishing for some "happily ever after" right now. I do know this, God has been present, close, intimate, my Father Abba during this hard season and often "His blessings come as raindrops." Listen to the song, Blessing, by Laura Story and let God bless you as He has blessed me with the beautiful words of this song. "Happily ever after" is coming and it will be out of this world.
