Those Tears I Cried

Friday night I did what I do most Friday Nights. I went to the IHOP in Bolingbrook. I needed a word from God. Sometimes when I'm there I get something. Most of the time. It's the atmosphere. It's the music, it's the combined prayer of several dozen people. It's the sense of God's presence in the room.

The music started. This isn't Organ Music. 3 percussionists, congas, drum kit and an Indian drum, 3 guitars, a bass, a flute, keyboard and 3 singers as well as the miked guitar and keyboardists.

Friday night it was loud. Not bad. Just loud. As the musicians swelled I became aware of a profound sense of grief. I started to cry. Then Sob. Then Bawl. I turned and hid my head under my jacket. I tried to keep from becoming obvious. This went on for over an hour.

The the word of the Lord came. He pointed me to Matthew 24:

What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?^[a]”

4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.^[b] 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations^[c] will hear it; and then the end will come.

I know what he was telling me was that the current election cycle, the current economics cycle, the current cultural wars, the rumors of wars that exist are not the end. Until the end.

Now, was I grieving over the circumstance? Or what? Was I being prepared for the sudden turn that would come?

One of the things I heard the Lord say to me clearly as I sought him over what was about to happen, "Do you trust me, can you rely on me to order your steps, is my grace really sufficient or do you need to depend on another".

I do trust you Lord. I get it.

The reality is this, God's goodness is such that we never ever miss what God is offering when he assures us of his sovereignty and goodness.

My fears and my sorrow are not well understood. I don't know for sure what they were all about.

But, I just checked, He's still on the throne.