“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
All three of my children learned to crawl when I was not looking. This was not intentional, but it was simply the way that things turned out because it seemed that no matter how much time I spent sitting in the room watching them, it was only when I walked out of the room that they finally got moving.
I did not have much evidence that they had crawled when I walked back in either. After all, for a few weeks there I did not actually see them crawling at all. Rather, the only proof I had that they could crawl was that when I walked out of the room – leaving them in one spot - they were in a different spot when I walked back in… And so – though I did not see them move with my own eyes – I knew without a doubt that they had started to crawl!
And these unobserved developments did not stop with the crawling! This is how they learned to walk and jump and skip and even to talk too – always just after I left the room – performing merrily by the time I returned…
And this sort of thing continues to happen even today! Just the other day, my youngest child – who has been struggling to understand the concept of “number” in mathematics since she first learned to count – suddenly understood and started to add and subtract like a little pro as though she has always been doing it!
And it is strange that it is only after the event that things seem to have a way of becoming clear. At the time, it felt as though the child would never learn and would never take that next step – so to speak. And yet, right there – when only their Guardian Angel and God were watching – they moved themselves ahead at the right time and in the right way…
And I have been reflecting on developments such as these very much over the last few days. For these developments remind me of our journey in faith…
After all, when my babies started to crawl, I did not see them do it – and yet I believed with all my heart that they had. It is the same with my God. I do not see Him move His Holy Hand to manifest His Holy Will, but the simple actuality of an event means that it is ONLY possible to have occurred through the Holy Will of God! And what a relief to know that God moves all things according to His Will – and His Will is only Good. For this means that when the bad things happen in my life they are NECESSARILY for the good – whether I can understand or see that at the time or not!
In that way, though I cannot see the movement of His Hand during the event, upon reflection it becomes very clear, for as the French surgeon and biologist said, “Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both marble and sculptor.” And the sculpture is the result of that great work – the beauty of which is evident only upon reflection...
And in knowing this, I know that I have nothing to fear, for though fear is a spirit it is not the Holy Spirit. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
And because of this, I know – with FAITH – that God will move all things to the Good. All developments occur for the Good. And because - through Grace and no merit of my own – I know of this… I am more blessed than words could ever say!
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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