Your departure- the glorious calamity

I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning the affliction which we experienced in Asia for we were so exceedingly unbearably crushed that we despaired even of life, but we had in ourselves this sentence of death in order that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8–9)

Paul and Co met with afflictions which were so exceeding the despaired even of life. However, as those who love God, these afflictions worked towards their good, that they may learn to rely on God. When terrible calamities come, the need to rely on God becomes more apparent. It is not that we do not need to rely on God to do the mundane but it seems that we are more acutely aware of our need to rely on God when bigger things come. As the calamities go, the faithful retain their lesson and realise that God sustains every single small thing thing in our lives, the faithful rejoice and become perpetually grateful. 

Your departure is a calamity of sorts. Best is if my heart aches so much for you it drives me to my knees. Next may be all the insecurities we have to deal with which will be so heartbreaking because we cannot thrash it out face-to-face. Worst will be the gradual loss of memory and affection, as the bustle or our own carelessness drives us into the background and it becomes increasingly difficult to put in the effort to meet on skype and to take interest in telling each other about our days. 

I guess I'll learn... learn to rely on God for everything. I'll learn to rely on Him to satisfy me, learn to rely on Him to stay faithful, learn to rely on Him for wisdom to guide you.. There are even places of reliance I cannot even fathom now, but these things will all come as you leave. 

We did remind ourselves to not get too caught up with the sad stuff and forget to enjoy the present... But hey C, we can take it further. Let's start getting enthusiastic about your departure.


http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/your-calamity-in-1973