For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. Ecclesiastes 9:1
There are junctures in life when things could go either way. It might be a complicated heart surgery, an amphibious landing, an oral exam, asking for a hand in marriage, or a momentous election. There’s anxious anticipation. There’s a wad of nerves in the pit of the stomach. All this is contemplated in the dead of night, when dawn seems light years away. It’s always darkest before dawn, they say.
We are told to trust in God, but if you do, you know that he may be in the process of working his perfect will, and we might not like the route he’s taking. He’s the one who chooses which road to take, and it may not look well paved.
He wants us resigned to whatever will be will be. Yet there are matters of such magnitude that we must realize with conviction that life as we know it hangs in the balance. That the calculations have been run and things don’t seem to add up. When stress becomes distress. When all hope appears to have run out. When wits are at their end.
He wants us actually to run out of options except to trust in Him like King David, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 2 Samuel 24:14
It is instructive to note he said this after acting foolishly, by taking a needless census of the people. He was given three choices for his medicine, but he chose to throw himself at the mercy of God. It’s always better to go this route. Even then, it’s a bitter pill to take knowing that it would have been different if you had listened to wise counsel in the first place.
Is there any comfort in knowing that we’re all in this together? That misery loves company? But it’s all too obvious that some can revel in circumstances that are obviously dire and have no problem with it. They merrily do the backstroke in the increasingly warm water of the kettle. Yet we may see clearly the stark reality. To this, the wise man said.
“The hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.” Ecclesiastes 9:3b
Best in all of this to adopt the posture of Jesus in the garden, on his knees where he came to terms with his certain fate. He said amidst the tears mixed with blood, “not my will but yours.” It’s at this juncture he wants us in everything, especially just before the dawn.
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