I stand amazed!

At church tonight, just before communion, the pastor talked about how Jesus knew he could call on legions of angels to rescue him from the cross, but how he also knew that was the way it had to be. Jesus knew salvation would only come to the nations through his death.  Jesus could've pulled out his cape, and proclaimed in his best Mighty Mouse voice, "Here I come to save the day!", but he didn't . . .   He chose not to.  Jesus knew there was no other way to the other side, but to go through the torture of crucifiction.  I've heard that at least a hundred times in the past 17 years, but it struck me in a new way tonight.

Today I've been weary thinking about the health battles my friends are fighting.  I have one friend whose 1 month old has been in the hospital for the past several days enduring blood tests and spinal taps trying to figure out what is making her so sick.  I have another friend who is just beginning to fight breast cancer.  A third friend has a little girl who has had to fight for life since she was born in April.  I've been praying for these precious friends and my heart has ached for each one of them as I've cried out to God for healing.

I went into church, my heart heavy for these families and what they're enduring right now.  During communion I was thinking about the pastor's words and my mind went to my friends and their situations.  I was thinking about how Jesus could just say the word and all their sickness would be healed.   My thought process continued and I started thinking about the way God is often glorified (and has been in all of these cases) in the darkest times of life.  I was reminded that on the other side of the journey my friends are on they're going to be stronger, they're going to be more alive, and they're going to have a testimony that is absolutely amazing, but they have to go through this first because it's the only way to get to the other side . . .

During communion I heard the band quietly playing one of my favorite hymns.  As I was still processing what God was teaching me about having to go through struggles to reach the ultimate goal the worship team started singing the song, and before long thousands of people were worshipping God with this song:






How marvelous! How wonderful! And [their] song shall ever be . .  How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!