God’s purposes will prevail; his Word is flawless; we will always have many questions unanswered in this fallen world….

Here are some powerful verses…

Psalm 6:3
My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?

Psalm 13:1
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

Psalm 13:2
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Why these verses and why this evening?  Well, glad you asked…:)

As we know, Irene takes no prisoners and is living above her circumstances, despite the 24/7 challenges.  However, on the drive home from dialysis this last Monday evening, she began to inquire to the Lord the very thoughts and questions expressed in those verses.  She received from the Lord one WORD: “until”.  That’s it;  just “until”.

This morning I called her from Southern California to check in since I was traveling for business; she quickly shared that she had received an affirming word from the Lord in her quiet time this morning…the CORE of which flows in Isaiah 6:11…

7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?”
And he answered:
“Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,
12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken.

Is 6:7-12

Note the emphasis on the word “UNTIL” in verse 11-12…which is repeated 3 times…

We will never understand much that God initiates and/or allows in our lives.  But for Irene, the message is abundantly clear…”UNTIL” is the defining word for this season of her surreal journey.

Thanks for caring,
Dave