An update on our daughter Valerie, now entering her 34th week of carrying our two new grandsons: she’s ready to be done with this stage of parenting. She told me during our last phone conversation that in the moment between waking up and getting out of bed, she fantasizes about using a walker. The boys weigh a little over three pounds each now, and they’re getting a little more kicky. So, while she’s increasingly uncomfortable, all of Val’s numbers and readings are good and she’s hanging in there really well. I mean, just look at her! She looks so beautiful in this picture. We’ve got to be just three or four weeks away now. (!!!!!!!)

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A theme that you’ll find in Scripture is that God has been with you since before you were born. The prophets write of being called by God before they were born. The psalmist sings of being brought out of his mother’s womb by God. The apostle Paul tells the Galatians God set him apart from birth and called him by his grace.

What that means is: Your life has meaning and purpose.

And I know it doesn’t always feel that way. Things happen in your life that seem random. Things that happen don’t always make sense. Your sister never smoked a day in her life, but now she’s diagnosed with lung cancer. You wind up at a college you didn’t pick. Somebody else gets the promotion you deserve. Somebody breaks into your car. Terrible parents you know have wonderful children, but your kids have gone off the rails. You’ve been divorced. Or devastated in some other terrible way.

Those things can seem so random. But our God is ultimately turning that thing–whatever it is for you–toward a salvation goal. So, on a higher level, that awful thing does make sense. That’s faith. That’s what we believe.

And I’m not trying to give some easy surface explanation for human tragedy and pain. I’m not trying to cheaply cheer somebody up who’s suffering. Sometimes our Christian comfort and counsel can sound very casual and detached. Cheap. That’s not what I’m saying.

I’m saying the God who grabs you, the God who owns you, is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is BOTH crucified and risen! So, whatever you’re dealing with or suffering through is not meaningless. God is moving all of it and you toward his eternal salvation goal for your life.

You are a part of something. It’s going somewhere. You have a role to play. God is involved. He’s got it. And he is at work in it and in you for your ultimate good.

Even as you endure whatever it is, God is changing you and calling you. And you can trust him. He’s been paying attention to you and loving you and protecting you since before you were born.

Peace,

Allan