Lord, Help My Unbelief

A classroom of twenty or so 5 and 6 year old children is a most glorious place on earth.  Some days I sit in my green teacher's chair and just marvel at the beauty on display before my eyes.  Little people love to take ownership of their world and genuinely thrive in surroundings where they are safe and comfortable.  During the fall of 2012, while the circumstances of life gave little reason for joy, I returned each day to my sweet students and found great encouragement.  Innocence, joy, peace, and curiosity filled the room.  The news of a gun man breaking into this world was unbearable to me.  It is a most sacred place. 

Along with the rest of our country, I've ached and cried over the evil of last Friday morning.  It shakes my faith.  While getting ready for church on Sunday morning, I cried out to the Lord.   While I do not understand his ways, I prayed that he will help me to trust him more.  Even when things crumbled around me this fall, the classroom was a place that appeared to be immune to the horror of this world, a place where hopes and dreams were on full display and joy and goodness reigned.  Sadly, I've been reminded that our world is broken in all areas by sin with nothing being spared.  My only response  to this is to humbly return to Christ and to ask him to help my unbelief as I question and grieve what I do not understand.  As we approach the Christmas holiday, I am longing for the return of the Lord Jesus.  Our Sunday service included "O Come, O Come Emmanuel".  The last three verses really struck me.   Christ is our Emmanuel.  Now,  I sing this Christmas hymn with the same expectation as I long for him to return and to bring us to our heavenly home. 

"O come thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny; from the depths of hell thy people save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.  O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadows put to flight.  O come, thou key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to misery.  Rejoice! Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel."