There is more.

I began following Christ when I was 6 years old. At age 8, I started going to a class for new Christians at my church. This class followed a small group teaching-style format. My group was obviously made up of kids around my age. To entice (or bribe) us into keeping up with the weekly assignments from our "New Christian" workbooks, my small group teacher (Mrs. Seabaugh)promised us she'd take us out for a McDonald's Ice Cream Sundae at the end of the six week class.

On our last meeting, Mrs. Seabaugh led us to believe that she would not be taking us to McDonald's. Though I understand now that she didn't want other groups to be jealous of our group as we walked away from the rest of the class, sticking out our tongues and bragging about our awaiting ice cream treat, at the time we were angry and confused. We had read. We had done our part. We didn't think she was being fair, but we didn't put up that much of a fight. Afterall, we were new Christians. We were told to play nice, especially while at church :)

Then something wonderful happened. About a half hour before class was over, Mrs. Seabaugh asked us to follow her out in the hallway. So the 5 of us got up and followed her into the hallway, down the stairs, and into the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked her.

"We're going to McDonald's!" she joyfully replied.

Immediately, a group of tenor voices shrieked with glee. She had tricked us, and done a good job of it. After we settled down and the cheering had stopped, my friend Barry still had one problem.

"But Mrs. Seabaugh," he said, "you lied."

The small group I go to on Thursday mornings (called Man's Group) is currently reading through Job. Its hard to read through this book and watch God allow his loyal servant go through so much suffering. My first response as I read this, much like Job's ultimate question, is "Why does God do this to someone who has done all that he has been asked to do?"

Why God allowed Job to suffer really isn't as important as the fact that God ultimately provided him with blessing and purpose unlike any he previously had. Whether you read this book as allegorical fiction or historical fact, the point of the story is the same:

amidst all calamity and pain, God still loves and God still provides.

So until we are able to stop focusing on the wrong part of our story, let us not forget God's proven goodness and all-knowing provision for every aspect of our lives. When we don't understand, when we are uncertain, when we are confused, when we are hurt, when we are troubled, when we are in doubt, when we are afraid, when we suffer, THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY.

God is not finished. He continues to work, he continues to reveal, he continues to guide. He continues.

There is more.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Let it be so."
-Ephesians 3:20-21