Today at Solace I did a reading from CS Lewis "The Silver Chair" - the part where Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum have to decide if they are going to follow Aslan's command or not. I was struck once again at how Lewis so acutely understands the dilemmas of the human heart, and phrases them in ways that anyone could understand. In the end, their dilemma comes down to "He didn't tell us what would happen. He just told us what to do."
The reading from John was the death and raising of Lazarus. I couldn't help noticing that even those who loved Jesus, and those whom He loved also, they still suffered anxiety, disappointment, confusion, sickness and even death. It was all for the glory of God, but they didn't know that at the time.
This is such a contemporary problem - contemporary to everyone, everywhere, at all times - that God does not appear when we call, when we are sick and in need. That God does not answer our prayers promptly and the way we would prefer. That God works all things to His glory and our good, but without asking our permission or letting us know beforehand!
If God were to ask us "Is it OK if I give you a bit of temporary suffering and trials on earth, a bit of anxiety and uncertainty which will allow you to empathize with others and give you opportunities to grow in character, to witness and to minister, before I finally bring you into eternity with Me?" Then, I'm sure we would all agree and count ourselves lucky in the bargain! And yet - isn't this the situation we are in every day? Isn't this exactly the bargain we struck with God when we decided to follow Jesus' way in the first place?
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