When we lose the wonder of all the creation around us, something in us begins to die slowly. Jesus taught us to become like little children to understand and enjoy His kingdom. A child experiences the world as an extraordinary place to live. They have a keen sense of newness, excitement, and life expectations. The enchantment of stars dancing in the darkness at night captivates their minds. They lay beneath a tree during the day, looking up and imagining the branches reaching the sky. They dream of countless adventures of rescuing the damsel in distress or being the damsel rescued to live happily ever after. You believe everything is possible, for your dreams will come true when you wish upon a star. (You are my Child)
As we grow older, we lose that sense of wonder, and the tree that reaches the sky becomes an ordinary tree in the grind of life. Then, finally, the stars at night fade away, and we lose the wonder of it all, and our spirit and soul face a harsh new reality. The excitement wears off as we discover life is far different from what we expected, and we lose hope for our future.
The world breaks our hearts, and we become indifferent, and before long, we hear the words of King Solomon speak in our hearts that everything is meaningless. We question whether God cares for us and ponder whether life is worth living. We lose the wonder of it all as we suffer unbearable grief of unfulfilled expectations and tragic events that strike like an arrow aimed at our hearts. In despair, we bow our heads and contemplate, is there a God who loves us, and is there a reason to live? (We are all Broken, and That’s All Right)
Life forces us to our knees with the world’s weight pressing on our shoulders. The wonder of it all loses its luster, and our breaking hearts question our existence and faith in God. When we lose faith, we seek answers outside the realm of God. That journey leads to cosmic forces playing with our lives and leaves us feeling separated from everything that exists and without hope.
Our real struggle is thinking we will get answers to our questions about life. Why did this happen to my loved ones, and why did this happen to me? We subconsciously believe if we do our best to treat people right, serve God, and love God, nothing devastating will ever happen to us. Yet, the sad truth is we suffer and die without adequate answers to satisfy our need to know why bad things happen to good people.
In Jobs’s book, he suffers staggering losses of his family members and possessions. Dialogue with his wife and friends seeks to find an answer for his suffering. Chapter thirty-eight starts a long discourse with God, asking Job, where were you when I laid out the world’s foundations? And with the numerous questions, Job realizes he doesn’t have the answers to his questions and never will. Job concluded that even though God would slay him, I still know that my Redeemer lives.
Job did not let the unanswerable questions about the meaning of suffering and life destroy his hope and wonder about his life. In all of his pain and suffering, he still could be in wonder of the mystery and the opportunity to live life. Instead of becoming hopeless and angry because life didn’t turn out the way he expected, he learned to trust God, who holds everything together when our lives are falling apart. (Break Open and Blossom in Life)
Once again, sit down by a tree and contemplate and ponder its beauty. Study the child who runs to catch a lightning bug under the stars at night and remember the wonder of it all. And may that wonder always let the resurrection light of Christ shine in your darkest moments.
Reflection:
Our experience in life is unique to us. Is it all right not to have all the answers? You are blessed if you remember the wonder of it all as a child. If your childhood was painful, I hope you can heal and move past the hurt and pain. Restoring hope for our lives is to regain the wonder of it all. Job had every reason to curse God and die, but somehow, he decided to live with the expectation that God would take care of him through his brokenness.
Prayer:
Lord help me let go of the need to have all the answers. Today let me live in awe of your creation. Let me take the time to express my gratitude for the gift of life given to me. No matter what I face, may I be like Job, knowing my redeemer lives. Amen
Scripture:
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NIV
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 12:8 NIV
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’ “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Job 38:4-12 NLT
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Job 13:15 NIV
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. Job 19:25 NLT
