Why do spiritual leaders and close friends persist in telling us that things will be “all right” when it may appear that things are all wrong? When we are in the throes of trouble, can it really be “all right?” When this pandemic brings about threats to our health, to our financial security, and to our way of life, how can it be “all right” with anyone?
Among the reassuring biblical illustrations that it can be “all right” when the circumstances appear to be all wrong, is the example of the barren woman who lived in Shunam. Although she had no children, and her husband had aged, God gave her a son. This blessing came as a result of extreme kindness which she and her husband had shown to the Prophet Elisha (II Kings 4:8-37). The serendipitous child grew, to the delight of the parents. But tragically one day, after complaining about pain in his head, the boy died. Instinctively, the mother rushed to implore the man of God. Her husband asked why she was going at an unscheduled time to see the man of God. Rather than explain, she responded by saying “It is alright.”
The urgent woman’s assertion was her expression of expediency. She had no time to explain, no minute to grieve and no moment to muse. Instead, she saddled her donkey and rode. She announced that it was “all right” because she would not allow time to convince her that it was all wrong. Our assessment of our situations can be enlightened when we move in the direction of God with urgency, rather than only sorrow in our situation.
The courageous woman’s declaration was the outcome of her expectation. Although she did not know how God would help, she fully expected His aid. If we limit God’s intervention to our intuition, we overlook reasons for optimism. We can say “It is alright” because we expect God to help, although we don’t know how.
The Shunamite woman’s reaction sprang from her rational relationship with God and with the people of God. She had rationalized that she could build a room on her house for the man of God and believed God had room to help her through the man of God. She rationalized that it would be “all right.” Her aspiration to expand her house for God was her inspiration to believe He would enlarge His heart for her and her son. When we see life’s unkind circumstances through a rational relationship with God, we rationalize that something good will come out of even our worst predicaments. It will be “all right.”
May God bless us to confidently declare, “It is alright,” because of our expectation, expediency and because of our rational relationship with Him. Be assured that God is with us and that “It is all right.”
May God bless the Schrader Lane Church of Christ.