Glorious Unfolding

Recently I’ve taken a lot of comfort from Steven Curtis Chapman’s Glorious Unfolding.

Consider the lyrics:

Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

There is so much truth in the song. Life is a fight with often just the whisper of God to keep us going. Life rarely goes like we think it will. There is often a sense that the end is closing in. It’s also true that the story isn’t over and we have to hold on to the promises of God.

However, it’s also important and helpful to keep some truths in mind.

The story doesn’t end in this life. The glorious may not completely unfold in this life. Why do we think that as Christians we have a right to an easy, problem-free life? Of the Apostles, John was the “lucky” one. He wasn’t killed for his belief. Unlike all his associates, he just died in prison. Complete peace, joy and rest is unlikely in this life.

Glorious may not be what we think.  We may not have God’s perspective on what is glorious. It’s glorious to Him when we seek His face. That often doesn’t happen when the sun is shining. It’s glorious when He is important to us individually and as nations. That doesn’t happen unless there are hard times. Remember the days after 911.

Forgiveness doesn’t always include consequence elimination.  We, as Christians, are blessed with forgiveness for every sin. Sin still has consequences for ourselves and others. Even with the blessings of forgiveness, the waves we set in motion may continue to roll for years.

Let’s remember to fight the fight, to rest in his arms in our beds at night, to be secure in the promises of glorious unfoldings,  sometimes in this life, but always in the forever after.