Life, much like the turning pages of a book, unfolds in unexpected ways. Our tales of joy, sorrow and the everyday mundane are written on the parchment of our existence, waiting to be discovered.
It is with this spirit of exploration and this thought of turning pages that I embark on a unique column-writing journey this week.
Instead of tethering my words to a preconceived theme, I invite you to join me as I follow the age-old practice of opening the Bible and pointing to a particular scripture – with eyes closed. I will then use this delightful randomness to shape the narrative of this week’s musings.
First up, II Corinthians 10:7 – “You are looking only at the surface of things.” I did ask God to bless this endeavor and guide me in this process (which then actually makes it non-random, right?), and so far he’s coming through with flying colors. Why am I not surprised?
One of my experiences this week brought a flood of different emotions into my life, and I can’t say it was my finest hour as I reacted to the situation. I was blindsided, astonished and hurt – along with a host of other emotions, finally ending up with anger. And I did not practice self-control in regard to this.
Oh, I wasn’t the worst person in the world, but I surely could have acted in a more loving, more caring, more accepting manner. And I surely should have – because, after all, I was looking only at the surface of things and should have perceived that much, much more was roiling underneath. I am praying to remember that in the future.
Next on the list, Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Wow. So I am looking at only the surface of things, but the eyes of the Lord are everywhere. That means he not only can look all around, but he can also look below the surface. He is omnipresent and omniscient. As compared to me and all other humans.
So whose wisdom would be better to trust? Certainly not mine. Or … dare it say it? … yours.
And next, Psalms 85:8 – “I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly.” Again, wow. It’s kind of like an entire Bible lesson is being presented here, just by my pointing my finger.
Peace … Peace is promised to his people. That means we do, in fact, need to be his people. If you don’t number among those today, I urge to you think about joining his family. Even among the storms and trials of life, this particular brand of peace still abounds. If you’re unfamiliar with how to acquire this peace, please message me. Let’s talk.
We’ll close out with Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Again, he is there for us. We’re able to approach that throne of grace because of Jesus.
Think about it: We can approach the Creator of the Universe, whom we can call Father. The Creator of the Universe. Talk about a feeling of awe – to know that he is on our side if we have placed our trust in him and obeyed his will.
Unsure of the outcome, I entrusted the direction of this column to both fate – and the Father. Turns out he knows how to string together a pretty good series of thoughts.
As our exploration through scripture concludes, the pages of life unfold with newfound wisdom. From II Corinthians to Hebrews, these divine lessons remind us to look beyond the surface, trust in a higher wisdom, and approach life’s challenges with confidence, knowing that the Creator of the Universe stands ready to offer peace, mercy and grace.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
