I had breakfast with two friends a few days ago. I'm 42. Both of these friends are retired. They both had strokes. They have both suffered financially because they cannot work anymore. They still have health problems as a result of the strokes. They keep the faith, and we encourage one another over morning coffee, but life for them is hard every day.
Recently,my family put our house on the market and sold it in 11 days, which if you know anything about the current market is quite a feat. We found a new house and were able to do a double closing. The new mortgage came through no problem. Our realtor said she had sold 20 houses this year, and the only two deals that didn't have major problems or challenges were the house we sold and the house we bought. As a result of our move, we are in the best financial shape we have been in our family life. I could name detail after detail which points to the fact that God's favor was in our move.
How do you reconcile my current success with the hardship of my friends? Honestly, I don't know. Did I work harder than them? No. Does God consider me his favorite? Don't I wish. Do I know some secret that they do not? I'm clueless. I think it goes deeper. Up to this point, my family has suffered a lot of financial hardship. Money has always been tight. But I can see where God used those 15 lean years to help us learn discipline and to overcome the common temptation to make money an idol. We (mostly me) have learned to master it, and not let money master us. Not saying I'm Dave Ramsey, but I'm learning. And we could have lean years again, as much as I shudder at the thought. But it won't be because I'm stupid with handling the money.
So what about my friends? What can God possibly be doing in their lives through these difficulties? My heart goes out to them when I see them struggle to find the right word. It is painful to watch how two very successful, hard-working men feel useless now because they can't do what they used to do.
All I know is that God still loves them, he is redeeming them, and God is focused on making all of us fit for eternity. He is growing great souls in us all. If that means suffering in this life, so be it. I know my new house could be gone tomorrow. But God is my rock. My health could be gone. God is my rock. This life is uncertain, but God is my rock.
