Really

I am surrounded by so many friends and family right now who are deeply struggling in this season which is supposed to look like a Hallmark commercial.  And rarely does.

It is not that we need to lower the bar of expectations for what God can do, or turn the definition of God's steadfast hope --on which we can stake our lives-- into a glimmery facade of wishful thinking.

Really, O God?  This too?

The coming of our Savior did not appear either as most expected, no gilded ribbons, glowing candles, the appropriate entry of royalty.  Not as a mighty king who would conquer the Romans, but coming as a tiny baby born in a cold stable in backwater Bethlehem.  Not a king who called for personal power, but a king who called for personal repentance.  Not a religion, but a relationship.

And except for a few shepherds and three wise men who lived some distance away, most missed the great light show that announced His arrival, the unveiling of the gospel, the manifestation of God's faithfulness.

The words have not lost their luster.  The awe is still there.  Even now.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
                       and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them,
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
             that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David
                      a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
                               and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
   and on earth peace, good will among men."

                                          Luke 2. 8-14

And in that lowly stable among farm animals,
Mary went from  "Really, O God?"
        to "O God, really!"

As it is repeated some 62 times in the book of Ezekiel,
just in case that we miss it,
             "... that you may know that I am the LORD."

And that would be us.

It is not that things are out of control,
    but out of my control,
                  and fully in His.

Things may not look exactly as we want them,
                   or on our schedule,
        but God is at work 
                        even in this,
more profoundly
         that we can ever know.

"Trust Me in this."

...so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till He has mercy upon us.
                                Psalm 123. 2

Perhaps until we see His mercy
         already surrounding us
in dimensions deeper
                    than our myopic vision.

And God says,  "Really."