Kim Nguyen was preparing for her doctoral exams in Old Testament when she learned that she would need surgery on her eyes. She should have recovered in 2 weeks, but 6 months later she still couldn’t see. She feared that her dream of teaching the Bible was slipping away. How could she write her dissertation if she couldn’t see? How would she find work to pay back her student loans?
At the bottom of her darkest day, Kim found hope in the book of Lamentations. The nation of Israel had been ravaged and pillaged by the Babylonians (Lamentations 5:11). The temple and palaces had been burned, leaving Jerusalem “empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals” (Lamentations 5:18; 2 Chronicles 36:17-20). There was nothing left but tears and a plaintive cry of praise. Lamentations ends with a defiant shout from the rubble. “But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. . . . Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” (Lamentations 5:19-21).
Kim realized that not everything of value was lost. She may have lost sight, but she hadn’t lost her Lord. She claimed Lamentations’ closing praise as her own and prayed, “Lord, I don’t understand why you haven’t healed my eyes. I beg you to give me as much as you will. But either way, I want you to know, you’re still the best thing I’ve ever got.”
Kim spoke those touching words in a chapel meeting. God finally did answer her prayer, and she is now a colleague at the Christian university where I teach. But even before she knew she would be healed, she chose to praise Him in the pain. May we seek God and His faithful ways when pain comes our way!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 24:1-27
More:
Read Psalm 34:1-22 to learn how to praise God in the midst of pain.
Next:
Do you need to cry out to God for something? How might your lament be an act of faith?
Gary Shultz on January 14, 2016 at 6:13 am
First, congratulations on finishing the story, it probably shouldn’t matter, but we are hounds for those happy or complete endings, we like closure. I don’t know if it has ever been noticed, but as people reach the bottom of the barrel the volume of claw marks will be found there. Then if victory is to be experienced we look upward and see there is still light. Those who have Christ have a great and real hope. Thanks Mike
Mike Wittmer on January 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm
I like your vivid description of where the claw marks are found! Of course, the end of the story does not come until the resurrection, so even those Christians who are not healed in this life can know that their ultimate healing is coming.
gagirllive on January 14, 2016 at 7:17 am
Thank you for this encouragement, Mike. I am finding that the place of pain offers the sweetest and most genuine praise. Pain is purifying…causing me to examine myself and my faith and ask, “Is God still valuable to me?…even in this desolation?” Like the woman in your story, I can choose to trust His heart even when I don’t understand His hand and submit to His perfect will for me. He really is a good, good Father.
Mike Wittmer on January 14, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Well said! We only know that Jesus is enough when we don’t have anything else.
Tom Felten on January 14, 2016 at 8:16 am
Such an inspiring story, Mike. Two things stand out—Kim’s faith in God and Kim clinging to the promises found in Scripture. It can be difficult to lift our eyes and gaze on Jesus when life has knocked us down. But when we do, hope can come and praise for our faithful God can flow.