Lord of all

I feel like I’ve been swimming in a concoction of emotions recently, as I prepare to leave England for the Gambia. Enough to make me feel distinctly queasy...  I’m really looking forward to lots of things, but somewhat less excited about other things. In no particular order:

Looking forward to…

• Sunshine! 
• Beautiful beaches 
• Opportunities to teach the Bible 
• Working alongside wonderful people 
• Fresh mangoes 
• General openness to talking about Jesus 
• Surfing 
• Wonjo juice 
• Geckos everywhere 
• Amazing birds 

Less excited about…

• Mosquitoes 
• Likelihood of getting malaria
• Spiders 
• Likelihood of getting burgled 
• Red tape 
• Loneliness 
• Heat at night 
• Offending people 
• Disappointing people 

I was deeply moved at a holiday party last summer to hear a recently wheelchair-bound friend unpack Job 1:21:

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised.”

What are you looking forward to? Know that it is God’s to give, or not. What are you not looking forward to? Know that God may deem it best to take things away. Without that assurance of my loving Father God being in total wise control of all things, I can’t imagine how I’d endure life, with all its ups and downs.

In recent years I sometimes led singing at church, and one of the song choruses that often seemed to really capture people’s affections was this:

“Christ alone, Cornerstone!

Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love.

Through the storm he is Lord - Lord of all.”

© 2011 Hillsong Music

Oh, the relief!  Whatever ups and downs, Jesus is Lord - Lord of all.