"Once you see the face of God, the world is forever transformed into His features." -Peter Kreeft
The other day I posted a quote by Oswald Chambers which spoke of the need to cling to belief in the reality of God's presence in our lives. It reminded me of a story I heard recently. My husband has been reading C.S. Lewis's The Horse and His Boy to our children, and while I haven't sat in on as many sessions as I would like (I need to catch up and read it on my own), I did hear a bit that really hit my heart a week or so ago.
If I understand correctly, the story centers around a boy named Shasta (and a horse, as the title suggests) who is running away from a cruel life to try to find freedom in Narnia. On his journey he encounters various perils which cause him to feel that he must be the most unfortunate boy in the world. Just as he is bemoaning the fact that everything seems to turn out alright for everyone except himself, he feels a presence walking beside him in the dark. This is part of the conversation that Shasta has with the unknown Thing:
Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face. "There," it said, "that is not the breath of a ghost. Tell me your sorrows."
Shasta was a little reassured by the breath: so he told how he had never known his real father or mother and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman. And then he told the story of his escape and how they were chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives; and of all their dangers in Tashbaan and about his night among the tombs and how the beasts howled at him out of the desert. And he told about the heat and thirst of their desert journey and how they were almost at their goal when another lion chased them and wounded Aravis. And also, how very long it was since he had had anything to eat.
"I do not call you unfortunate," said the Large Voice.
"Don't you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?" said Shasta.
"There was only one lion," said the Voice.
"What on earth do you mean? I've just told you there were at least two the first night, and - "
"There was only one: but he was swift of foot."
"How do you know?"
"I was the lion." And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the voice continued. "I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you amoung the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."
And then, the story goes, the light of dawn shines around the Lion, who is Aslan, the King above all High Kings in Narnia. For the first time, Shasta sees Him in all his terrible, wonderful beauty. And the revelation changes everything for the boy.
I think that all of us can look upon events in our lives (and the broader world, for that matter) and have reason to wonder about where God has been in it all. It's so easy to doubt the reality of His presence and care when difficult things happen. Perhaps that's one of the greatest griefs we can experience - that sense that we are alone and set adrift in this world without much tangible help or care.
But more and more I am realizing that we must cling to the hope and truth of His presence despite circumstances. A relentless belief in His presence makes all the difference on how we interpret the events of our lives. I'm sure we've all heard the analogy that says it's as if God is weaving an amazing tapestry in the lives of His people - not only in our individual lives, but also as our lives interlock with others. His awesome presence is always there, superintending over everything, truly working things out for good. The thing is, we don't always get to have a conversation like Shasta's and see what His purposes have been in the difficult things (although He does give us glimpses from time to time). Some things just won't enter our understanding until we see Him face to face.
Sometimes we get the message that the hard parts of life are for God's glory alone (as we show strength and endure through suffering), but there is great warrant, based on the promises of His Word, for believing that He is very concerned with establishing our glory and good as well. I think we will be utterly amazed when our dim glasses are removed and it all becomes clear. Most of all, we will be amazed at God's complete goodness towards us. Until then, we have reason to have great hope in the midst of trials. We must keep our eyes ever peeled for what He might be doing.
"His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory." (1 Corinthians 2:7 NEB)