God's providence tries our understanding of what is happening in our life. It requires faith for us to be still and wait for God's answer. Sometimes the answer is clear, other times individual providences make up a mosaic, like a Monet painting, of a bigger picture that we may never see.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lordmade the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20: 8 - 11
I'm a firm believer in keeping the Lord's Day a holy day. I'm also a firm believer that it is the least adhered to commandment by Christians. We excuse this one away while condemning the other 9 commandments when broken.
As a professional musician, keeping the Sabbath is not always easy. Musicians have no lack of work opportunities on a Sunday and the impact on our income and relationships with unbelieving colleagues can be costly. But, the Lord has never failed to show us greater grace and reward for keeping it. God has never left us wanting. If anything, we have gained far more than this world could ever offer. Our loving God gave the Sabbath to us as a gift - for worship, for us. He meets with His children that day giving a piece of eternity - Himself - His Word - the Sacraments - the fellowship of the saints.
I was really tested in this recently. After a long period of illness and taking care of my parents in their older age, I was finally able to audition for a new job - a professorship at a highly respected university. There were individual events - Bible reading, providences, correspondences, etc... that told me the Lord was leading me to this job. I had nothing to lose to audition, so I did and got the job. But there was one one catch. I had to tackle If I could agree to participate in two Sunday performances during the academic year. This was a struggle. Lord, what do you want me to do? Your Word is clear, yet you keep pointing me in this direction.
So my husband, another very experienced elde, and I prayed and talked about it. The elder is a ICU doctor who on occasion has to work on a Sunday so he is very familiar with the turmoil this decision can cause. After some thought, we agreed that I should email the department chair and see if there was any flexibility in the dates. If he responded yes, then I would take the job. Thankfully, that was the response I received. I accepted the job, but was still unsettled because the fall date was set. So, I set out to pray. Lord, if this is your will, so be it. I can still be at both morning and evening services, but oh, how I'd rather not.
The fall semester has been hectic settling into my new routine - new students, chamber music rehearsals, paperwork, etc...It's a transition, but a good one overall. The little, yet not so little providences: My pastor's daughter works in my department as a student worker and no one else in our church is affiliated with this university that is 45 minutes from home. One of my beloved former students attends here, and they, my pastor's daughter and former student, have become friends without my introducing them. An answer to a year of prayer. One of my new students is a leader in InterVarsity (IV). A current private student indicates that she has wanted to attend my university and would like to continue her studies with me. My list could go on.
The chamber group pushes through with rehearsals, but hiccups start happening. Family deaths, once in a lifetime performances that are out of state, etc...start interrupting our ability to rehearse and then, my neck and back go out on me the weekend before our dress rehearsal. Deep down, I know I'm likely out for a bit of time, but I make the necessary doctor's appointment and pray to the Lord. Please let something else happen. Don't let this performance not happen because of me. Not the new faculty member. I email my colleague who runs the group telling her that I'm getting into the doctor asap and will know better about my ability to make the dress rehearsal after my visit. READY? She reassures me...one of our other colleagues has had a death in the family that very day. "It seems like we might have to postpone this concert. After all, I have a performance out town this weekend, too. Let me talk to the other colleagues." LORD? I pray and take a much needed nap to rest my back.
The phone wakes me. My colleague is on the other end explaining that after some negotiation and real effort to spare the concert, the remaining colleagues determine that postponing the concert is the better resolution and actually better all the way around. But she doesn't end there. "Sundays don't really seem to work well for us at all...Doesn't this solution seem so much better...[] can tend her family unrushed and you can heal well...I think I heard a collective sigh from the group when we came to this decision." Did you ever! Now not just the one, but both concerts will be on days other than Sunday. Thank you, Lord!
I would never wish or pray for the death of someone's family member, but God's economy is not mine. Pain has a purpose - back and neck pain, the death of a family member, etc...all part of God's plan for good. He led me from the very beginning of this job process to this point. And, all along, I had questioned whether the Lord really wanted this job for me because of the Sunday performances. Not need to wonder anymore. His answer is a resounding yes. Even in the 11th hour His ways always bring peace and rest to us - and even those who don't believe.
Pray for my colleagues to see Jesus and for those who mourn.
