Continued from yesterday’s post
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” How should a believer respond to tragedy or shocking news? We must remember the truth about our God and rest in those truths. That does not mean we cannot cry or feel emotions, it means that we must keep our actions based upon the solid Rock of Truth.
As Carol and her husband, Jeff sat before their pastor he told them that a girl in their Christian school was accusing Jeff of molestation. Carol was sure her husband was innocent. They both figured this girl had some wild imagination and denied the charges. However, after a couple of sleepless nights, Jeff woke Carol in the middle of the night and confessed to this immoral act – and others. Carol was in shock, but determined they would work through this together. A couple days later Jeff was missing. Under the pressure of the guilt of his sin and the legal ramifications Jeff ended his own life. Carol was now left to move on alone, with their two children and bearing another child in her womb. That was thirteen years ago.
Through this tragedy Carol had to come to a place of utmost dependence on God. She now had no one else to turn to – no one to lean on but her Savior, and she has always found that He is enough. She ended up moving back to Northland Bible College (now called Northland International University) where she began teaching ladies’ Bible and counseling classes. The Lord has also given her many opportunities to speak to women at conferences, such as the retreat at The Wilds this past weekend.
As I listened to Carol speak I saw a woman who has entrenched herself in God’s Word. She knows the Bible and therefore she knows her God! She lived it before us as she shared with us in the last session that she had gotten a call from her mother that afternoon. She had called to tell her that her sister had committed suicide that day. Our hearts broke as she also shared that her sister was not saved. I wondered how I would have responded had I been in her place. I think there would have been a strong desire to pack my things and leave camp to run home to be with my family. But here she was, finishing her responsibilities at this retreat, quietly resting in God’s sovereign care. What a precious testimony of resting in the Truth.
Interesting, isn’t it, that she ended up living in the very place that she had complained about? The word here is surrender. This is where God wanted her, and now she is yielded to His will – not her own.
Women tend to look at a woman like Carol standing before them speaking and ask, “How could I have a ministry like that? I’d love to speak to groups of women!” A ministry of that sort isn’t pursued…it’s placed upon a woman that has gone through the school of trials and come through shining with the degree of Grace. While we thank the Lord for what she taught us, we must all realize that the Lord is wanting to do the same kind of refining in each of our lives so that we can influence those that are around us each day. I’ll end with a quote from Carol – “We can’t produce, but we can influence.” Whose life will you influence for godliness today because you are resting in the Truth?
