So, when we read about Joseph being sold into slavery, falsely accused and languishing for many long years in prison... we already know that one day he is going to become governor of the whole nation.
When we read about the Israelites spending 400 years in slavery in Egypt, or 70 years in exile in Babylon... we already know that one day they will return to their promised land.
When we read about David being hunted down by jealous King Saul who wants to kill him... we already know that some fifteen years later he himself will become King of Israel.
When we read of Jesus suffering on the cross, and His dead body being placed in the garden tomb... we already know that He is going to rise from the dead and be alive for evermore.
So we read these stories without ever experiencing the devastating physical and emotional pain that these people experienced when they were still "in the middle of the story."
It's a bit different when you're reading a novel or watching a movie. Unless you flip the pages to the last chapter, or fast forward to the end of the film, you find yourself caught up in the devastation and uncertainty of what the protagonist is facing. You simply don't know yet how the story is going to end and so you experience more of the drama or danger that the character is going through.
This morning, reading in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews, I came to the part where the writer urges the believers not to "throw away" their confident trust in the Lord (Heb 10:35) but to hold on tightly, without wavering, to our hope that God can be trusted to fulfill His promises. (Heb 10:23) Of course, it's speaking about our hope of salvation... but I couldn't help seeing the parallels with the challenging situation I've found myself in this year.
Hebrews 10 verse 36 (pictured above) really stood out to me this morning: Patient endurance is what you need, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. Throughout this whole year, I have sought to do God's will. Despite not being able to find a place to live, I have persevered here, believing that He was prompting me to stay in Spain and not to "throw away"my right to residency here. But it has grown harder and harder as each month has gone by. It's excruciating not to be able to visit Scotland and help out my family at this time. It's been agonising to have to cancel all my ministry plans that involved any kind of travel. We're three quarters of the way through the year and the end is still not in sight. I'm still in the middle chapters of the story and I can't fast forward or flip to the last chapter to find out how it's all going to end.
As hard as it is, all I can do is:
- pray for patient endurance
- continue to do God's will to the best of my understanding
- trust that, in the last chapter, I'll see God prove His faithfulness as He did for all the people in those Bible stories.
Read on in the post below where I reflect on the mystery of the recent seaside apartment chapter.
