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A friend of mine from college shared with me that his grandfather was originally supposed to be present at D-Day as one of the men storming the beaches. He served in the Coast Guard, but his ship had experienced some random mechanical issues which delayed their arrival, and they never made it in time for D-Day. They never really saw much more engagement for the remainder of his service. If you know anything about how gruesome D-Day and the following campaign were, you know that those mechanical issues could have very well spared their lives. After the war, my friend's grandfather returned to the United States, met Jesus, and ended up surrendering to become a Baptist preacher! Like many, he struggled with what some would call "survivor's guilt". So many people died on those beaches, and he felt guilty that they never made it and he "missed out" on D-Day, while at the same time being filled with gratitude for having been spared such a terrible mission.
As he worked through his guilt mixed with gratitude, the Lord taught Him a great deal about His sovereignty, and he wrote many amazing sermons on the topic. His family now has a legacy of faith, and I served with his grandson in college doing camp ministry all across Texas.
I was encouraged to hear this story. It reminded me that the Lord's big picture is far greater than the little tiny sliver of it that I can see. In the moment, one might only see some mechanical issues. Meanwhile, the Lord sees all that He would do through the life of this man who would one day preach to many, not to mention all the others who were in his unit.
It might be difficult to see the many lives that were lost, asking, "Why didn't the Lord spare them?" I'm sure my friend's grandfather wrestled with these types of questions. "Why them and not me?" There are often not clear answers to these questions, so in these moments we can hold fast to what we know to be true about God.
- He has made a way to eternal life for all who believe so that death is not the end.
- God, in His sovereignty, is working together a far bigger picture than we could ever imagine.
The Lord used the sacrifice of some to bring freedom and justice to many. Likewise, the Lord used the sparing of others, like my friend's grandfather, to advance His Kingdom on Earth and carry out His will.
The Lord had a plan for my friend's grandfather. He knew what lay ahead of him. He, likewise, has a plan for you. He knows what tomorrow and next week and next year and beyond will bring. Trusting in the sovereignty of God requires us to take our hands off the wheel and live in radical trust. The most amazing thing about this is, it brings immeasurable peace and joy to your life to trust the Lord in and for all things. He is sovereign, whether we recognize it or not. Proverbs 16:33 says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." We can either be consumed with anxiety trying to understand or even manipulate the will of God, even though such efforts would all be in vain, or we can resolve to trust the sovereignty of God in all things and let peace reign in our hearts as a result.
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
(Isaiah 26:3)
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