When we hit the proverbial wall,
faced with outcomes far different from any we prayed, believed for.
When we thought God was in it, with us,
and not in the generic way church folk often claim.

Now faced with the inescapable finality,
and little wriggle room for the usual dodges,
about timing, techniques of supplication and such.
That letter denying the object of our faith,
the print-out bearing unwanted news,
the loss of a loved one, whose situation was the object of much faith, prayer.

Posers for, the thoughtful faithful,
a questioning of initial assumptions, presumptions,
even the essence of our faith sometimes.
How did we get to the conclusion,
that a particular course, cause was of God,
a desired outcome, our just desert.
Sometimes it’s bad theology – maybe,
but most times it’s more.

Then Romans 9:6 reminds me,
“It is not as though God’s word has failed…”.

kicks it wide open.
Maybe we simply misunderstand
because we see so dimly,
fleeting creatures that we are, grasping so poorly,
the sovereignty of a God,
who comes out of all this, bigger than ever.

Even if our real and present disappointment,
Occludes this truth momentarily.