the stone

Tragedy always begs "why?" from someone or somewhere.

Hard always leaves a trail of confusion, however small, in its wake.

And most of the time an answer, one that would satisfy, pacify or comfort, seems elusive.

I remember talking with a friend after her precious son went to be with Jesus. She was broken. I prayed the whole way over to her house that God would give me words to comfort, that He would bring truth to the forefront of my mind to share. I prayed that He would keep me from saying anything stupid.  I think about that day, that conversation a lot. God answered my prayer, for her... for me, that day. And I thought of Caden's death... of loss, tragedy, hurt and hard,  in a new light.

All because she asked a very hard...a very unanswerable question.

Why do some people get the miracle... and why wasn't it me?

And I don't know.

But I answered with this.

God knows. He is always working... and He is always doing good. His desire is for all to know Him, and for our lives to bring Him glory.

And, maybe it depends on how you see, or what you see as a miracle.

And then I tried to portray a word picture of my thoughts to her.

Picture life, all of life, as a great pond.

And each person is a drop of water.

I think sometimes God drops stones into the pond in the spot, the exact spot, where he knows the ripples will make the most impact.

Perhaps you are the spot where the stone hit... and your life, your actions, your ministry, has been turned into ripples for others to see... for others to feel... for God to use...

Sometimes the stone is a "miracle" of life instead of death, of health instead of sickness... of prosperity instead of poverty...

And sometimes the stone God tosses is one of hurt, and trial and hard...

But each has its purpose.

and I bet there are some awesome miracle ripples that started from a stone of tradgedy.

I do know that suffering, for a believer, is never wasted. God uses the hurt, the heavy and the hard to refine, purify and build endurance.

And the brilliant shine in the aftermath is a finger print of God for all to see.

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 Timothy 1:12

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.