Looking for Lanterns During Disappointing Times 

William Alexander Percy tells in his little book, Lanterns on the Levy, how the men living along the Mississippi River would patrol the levies when the big river was at flood stage. The wives at night looked to see the lights from the lanterns to feel safe, because they were being watched over.

In my ministry I come in contact with so many who are facing grave disappointments. When those disappointments come, they can suck practically all of the life out of you. In a matter of just two days, disappointment came to one family whose 38 year old son was facing intestinal cancer. Two other family’s fathers/husbands were facing severe heart problems. Another woman was smitten with severe heart pains. Another 30 year old is facing severe medical problems. Two other families have experienced the death of a loved one. And the list of disappointments goes on and on.

As the pastors we need to be able to see some type of encouragement in all of these and then communicate it to the people. The task is humanly impossible! But God in His great mercy and grace gives us comfort and hope in every circumstance of life.

One of the best prescriptions that God has given us is His Word says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37: 4, 5).

There is no one who is wise enough to plot and predict his future. We don’t know what a new day holds. But we do know Who holds the new day! It is hard to see the Lord’s hand in all of the things that we encounter. We cannot understand the future or why things happen as they do. It may take a year or many years to see God’s hand in it all, but we know that "all things work together for those who love the Lord . . ." (Romans 8:28). I love the words that Corrie ten Boom said many years ago, "We should never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

I believe that we will be able to do as these women on the Mississippi did many years ago—keep looking out to see the glimmer of light in the bleak darkness. As a matter of fact, history tells us that after each great Mississippi flood, a great deposit of soil was left and that even today has made the River Basin one of the richest areas in the world. I pray that you will find consolation in the light from God’s Word and presence.

This past Sunday the Lord challenged us to be good stewards of all of God’s blessings to us. He challenged us to open the floodgates to allow His greatest blessings in our lives. I look forward to seeing you in your regular place this coming Sunday.