And It Came to Pass by Laura V. Hilton

originally published in 2016

Sometimes, the verse I cling to most in the Bible is Luke 2:2a. “And it came to pass…”

 

Right now we’re going through a situation with our oldest son. We don’t know how it’s going to end. Not even sure what really happened. Unfortunately, he has lied to us so much that we can’t trust him, even when we want to. As a result of working on “Black Friday” this past year, he was accused of something. A felony. He denies it. There is a video that says he might have but doesn’t really prove anything. It falls more into the category of he says/she says. The questions are: “Did it really happen?” and “If so, was it an accident or on purpose?” A judge is going to have to decide both things. If it happened, and if it is determined to be deliberate, the ramifications could possibly ruin his life.

 

We’re still parents even when our adult children behave badly. We suffer and worry when “life happens” to our husband or wife. I remember a Christian agent telling a story about one time her husband rode on an elevator with a woman. He was an administrator in a hospital. The woman said that he sexually harassed her. He was a Christian, denied it vehemently, but he ended up losing his job. Guilty—even though he was innocent.

 

Almost the same thing happened with my husband. He worked in a nursing home and was told “Make sure the residents do everything they can for themselves.” Specifically, one lady, who was supposed to put on her own shoes. His boss told him, “Do not put her shoes on for her.” So he goes in to help her. She says “Put my shoes on.” He tells her that he isn’t allowed to. The woman responds, “If you don’t, I will tell administration that you abused me.” My husband chose to obey his boss and not the woman. And as a result, he was accused of abuse. Fired from his job. And ultimately, kicked out of nursing school even though the state decided he was innocent. Guilty—even though he was innocent.

 

When things like that happen in our lives, it’s difficult to keep our focus.  On God. On our jobs. On the rest of the family.  Especially if you’re an artist or an author and your creativity is highly dependent on minimal stress . . . or an abundance of grace to carry you through.

 

You have to remind yourself, often out loud, “Breathe!  This too shall pass.”  The good, and the bad, and even the ugly – they will all come to pass.  But the one constant in your life will always be there. God.

 

When bad things happen you have to move on. Sometimes, moving on isn’t exactly what we imagine it will be. Sometimes it’s just getting to a place where we’re okay with the future, whatever it holds.

 

Moving on isn’t always about making drastic changes. Moving on sometimes means being sure of who you are. That way you know that whatever the future holds, you’ll be okay.

 

With the case of my son, I have to be okay with whatever the future holds. My plans for my life (or my hopes for his life) doesn’t always equate to being God’s plan for my life (or God’s plan for his life). I have to be willing to take God’s hand and let Him lead me into the unknown.

 

I can only see a few feet in front of me. God can see the big picture. I need to hold on to that knowledge, even when it doesn’t feel true. Even when I desperately want to take things into my own hands.

 

And it came to pass…

 

Sometimes, waiting is all you can do. There’s no other choice but to hold tight until things calm down.

 

If the setbacks in my life hadn’t happened, I probably would’ve never been here on this site as a blogger. I wouldn’t have learned to trust God with my life, to give Him total control of the characters in my head. I wouldn’t have a clear plan for my future.

 

I still don’t have all the answers—not by a long shot. But I know that God uses our greatest pain to form the most effective launching pads for our lives.

 

This too shall pass. 

 

 

http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-to-stop-worrying-7-tips-for-christians/

 

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with over thirty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs. Her most recent series with Whitaker House is set in Mackinac County, Michigan, and includes Firestorm, The Amish Candymaker, Married to a Stranger, and The Amish Bachelor  (July 2021). Her newest series is with Forever and includes The Amish Wedding Promise, The Amish Christmas Gift, and The Amish Secret Wish. It is set near Arthur, Illinois.

 

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

 

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.