Dodger: Good grief! What a week!
Lilly: I think you mean, what a month. We haven't been in since the beginning of April!
Dodger: Oh. Well, it's still been a long week, and a rough one at that. Yikes! Where are my manners? Good to see you again, friend. Sorry it's been so long since we hung out. I've been kept on the move for a while.
Lilly: He's not kidding. Dodger has barely had time to breath since we saw him last. I've never seen anyone so ready for summer vacation.
Dodger: If only it wasn't still so far off. Oh, but I'm tired. I don't think I can take any more of today, or the last week. I, really don't know what to say. I'm so exhausted.
Lilly: Hang in there.
Dodger: I've been doing that!
Lilly: No need to snap, Dodger.
Dodger: You know, I've just about had it with trying to remain calm! Do you have any idea what my week was like? Even the weekend was brutal!
Lilly: Okay! I understand.
Dodger: I don't think you do.
Lilly: Hey, Dodger. What...what's wrong?
Dodger: Aside from the fact that I had two loved ones in the hospital this weekend, nothing!
Lilly: WHAT?! Dodger, why didn't you tell me?
Dodger: I didn't want you to worry.
Lilly: But I'm your friend! It's my job to know what's bugging you! Who cares if I might worry? Isn't it more important that I know and try to help?
Dodger: I guess. Whatever.
Lilly: Now, none of that. Who was it?
Dodger: My cousin and my grandma. Car accident.
Lilly: My goodness...I'm sorry! Are they okay?
Dodger: Yeah. Some broken bones, nothing more. Except a great deal of anxiety and nervousness. See, it happened two days ago. They were supposed to visit, but the time came and neither of them had arrived. I thought it might be just that they forgot, so I called, but they didn't answer. So then I called my uncle and grandpa, and they said that they had both headed here together. I began to get real nervous and then my mom came up and said we needed to go visit them at the hospital. That scared me. They're okay, but...good grief! That was way too close for my comfort! What if something worse had happened?
Lilly: I...I'm sorry. That's rough. At least they weren't too badly hurt.
Dodger: THEY WERE IN A CAR WRECK!
Lilly: Yes. That's scary. Really scary. I hope that something like that never happens again. Ever. Since you know they're okay, though, why are you still scared?
Dodger: Because I never expected it. It was beyond my control, and I didn't know how to handle it when it happened. The car was totaled, Lilly! I...the...oh, forget it. Where was God in this? I know He did something, but I couldn't really feel Him!
Lilly: Yeah, that's kind of rough stuff. I don't blame you for being freaked out. When things like that happen it can really sometimes feel like God's not even in the same place, huh?
Dodger: Kinda. I mean, I'm not really angry with God...not at all. In fact, I'm thankful that all He let happen was some broken bones. But, it didn't feel like He was there. I knew He was, sorta, but, it was just too surreal to really...I dunno. God is our Father, so why didn't He, you know, at least prepare me for the news, or help me keep calm, or reassure me that everything was okay? Why did He let me sit in suspense?
Lilly: Ehm...would you have wanted God to tell you there was an accident?
Dodger: I dunno. Probably not. That might have made it feel even weirder.
Lilly: Did you get a chance to pray when you found out?
Dodger: Of course. I always have a "chance" to pray.
Lilly: Did you?
Dodger: Yes.
Lilly: Did you hear God say anything?
Dodger: I might have. I felt like I was being told that it wasn't as bad as it sounded and I didn't need to be afraid.
Lilly: That sounds like it could have been God.
Dodger: It didn't really calm me down, though.
Lilly: Perhaps not, but, at least what you heard ended up being true!
Dodger: Yeah. That did happen.
Lilly: You know, Dodger, sometimes scary things happen and we cry out to God and you know what? It doesn't always make us feel better right away, at least, not apparently. Sometimes we're still afraid and even panicky. That doesn't change God's presence, though. He was still in charge of the situation. He still had your relatives in His hands. God heard your prayers and your fears and you know what? Even though He knew He was in total control of the whole thing, He was still sad for you and your relatives.
Dodger: Really? How do you know?
Lilly: Well, have you ever read about Lazarus?
Dodger: Who?
Lilly: You know, the man in the Bible that Jesus raised from the dead in John 11! Mary and Martha are friends of Jesus and send for His help when their brother Lazarus is sick. He comes and sees Lazarus dead, and even though He can and will bring him back, Jesus still cries (John 11:35, NKJV, please read in context). He's got everything in His charge and still has sadness for His creation, the people He loves. Dodger, God was not aloof during this crisis. He was involved, He was there, and He felt for you, your cousin, and your grandma. You might not have felt it, but it still happened. Does that answer your question?
Dodger: I hadn't thought of it like that.
Lilly: When we don't feel God it can seem like He just isn't there. God is always there, though, and He is constantly looking out for us. When things go wrong, He's just as sad as we are. We need to remember that sometimes. There's no shame in needing to take time and remember. Hard things happen and it takes time to get the reminder, but when we turn to God for comfort, even if we aren't aware of it, He is still working in our hearts and making things better. Don't forget that.
Dodger: Thanks, Lilly. I needed a reminder.
Lilly: I'm glad I could help. Remember, Dodger, Jesus loves you.
Dodger: And that's not about to change. Yep, I understood that reference. I guess we need to head out.
Lilly: Yep. Ciao for now!
Dodger: Later!
There You Are
-Lilly
God, why did this happen here?
Can't you see it's caused me fear?
I can't stand this kind of stuff!
Lord, please, stop it! It's too tough!
Can't I at least see your hand?
God, just help me understand!
I know you're there. I'm sure it's true,
BUT I'M UNABLE TO SEE YOU!
"Dear child, I promise I didn't leave.
It's hard to suffer or be bereaved!
Believe me, I know, it's happened so oft,
It has hardened hearts that were once soft.
Yes, I'm still here, and I love you.
I'm sorry that this happened, too.
I promise it'll work out for the best.
Keep trusting me. I'll take care of the rest.
You might not feel me, but I'm still here.
I completely understand your fear.
I'm holding you now. We'll make it through.
Believe me, child, that's what I do."
Lilly: I think you mean, what a month. We haven't been in since the beginning of April!
Dodger: Oh. Well, it's still been a long week, and a rough one at that. Yikes! Where are my manners? Good to see you again, friend. Sorry it's been so long since we hung out. I've been kept on the move for a while.
Lilly: He's not kidding. Dodger has barely had time to breath since we saw him last. I've never seen anyone so ready for summer vacation.
Dodger: If only it wasn't still so far off. Oh, but I'm tired. I don't think I can take any more of today, or the last week. I, really don't know what to say. I'm so exhausted.
Lilly: Hang in there.
Dodger: I've been doing that!
Lilly: No need to snap, Dodger.
Dodger: You know, I've just about had it with trying to remain calm! Do you have any idea what my week was like? Even the weekend was brutal!
Lilly: Okay! I understand.
Dodger: I don't think you do.
Lilly: Hey, Dodger. What...what's wrong?
Dodger: Aside from the fact that I had two loved ones in the hospital this weekend, nothing!
Lilly: WHAT?! Dodger, why didn't you tell me?
Dodger: I didn't want you to worry.
Lilly: But I'm your friend! It's my job to know what's bugging you! Who cares if I might worry? Isn't it more important that I know and try to help?
Dodger: I guess. Whatever.
Lilly: Now, none of that. Who was it?
Dodger: My cousin and my grandma. Car accident.
Lilly: My goodness...I'm sorry! Are they okay?
Dodger: Yeah. Some broken bones, nothing more. Except a great deal of anxiety and nervousness. See, it happened two days ago. They were supposed to visit, but the time came and neither of them had arrived. I thought it might be just that they forgot, so I called, but they didn't answer. So then I called my uncle and grandpa, and they said that they had both headed here together. I began to get real nervous and then my mom came up and said we needed to go visit them at the hospital. That scared me. They're okay, but...good grief! That was way too close for my comfort! What if something worse had happened?
Lilly: I...I'm sorry. That's rough. At least they weren't too badly hurt.
Dodger: THEY WERE IN A CAR WRECK!
Lilly: Yes. That's scary. Really scary. I hope that something like that never happens again. Ever. Since you know they're okay, though, why are you still scared?
Dodger: Because I never expected it. It was beyond my control, and I didn't know how to handle it when it happened. The car was totaled, Lilly! I...the...oh, forget it. Where was God in this? I know He did something, but I couldn't really feel Him!
Lilly: Yeah, that's kind of rough stuff. I don't blame you for being freaked out. When things like that happen it can really sometimes feel like God's not even in the same place, huh?
Dodger: Kinda. I mean, I'm not really angry with God...not at all. In fact, I'm thankful that all He let happen was some broken bones. But, it didn't feel like He was there. I knew He was, sorta, but, it was just too surreal to really...I dunno. God is our Father, so why didn't He, you know, at least prepare me for the news, or help me keep calm, or reassure me that everything was okay? Why did He let me sit in suspense?
Lilly: Ehm...would you have wanted God to tell you there was an accident?
Dodger: I dunno. Probably not. That might have made it feel even weirder.
Lilly: Did you get a chance to pray when you found out?
Dodger: Of course. I always have a "chance" to pray.
Lilly: Did you?
Dodger: Yes.
Lilly: Did you hear God say anything?
Dodger: I might have. I felt like I was being told that it wasn't as bad as it sounded and I didn't need to be afraid.
Lilly: That sounds like it could have been God.
Dodger: It didn't really calm me down, though.
Lilly: Perhaps not, but, at least what you heard ended up being true!
Dodger: Yeah. That did happen.
Lilly: You know, Dodger, sometimes scary things happen and we cry out to God and you know what? It doesn't always make us feel better right away, at least, not apparently. Sometimes we're still afraid and even panicky. That doesn't change God's presence, though. He was still in charge of the situation. He still had your relatives in His hands. God heard your prayers and your fears and you know what? Even though He knew He was in total control of the whole thing, He was still sad for you and your relatives.
Dodger: Really? How do you know?
Lilly: Well, have you ever read about Lazarus?
Dodger: Who?
Lilly: You know, the man in the Bible that Jesus raised from the dead in John 11! Mary and Martha are friends of Jesus and send for His help when their brother Lazarus is sick. He comes and sees Lazarus dead, and even though He can and will bring him back, Jesus still cries (John 11:35, NKJV, please read in context). He's got everything in His charge and still has sadness for His creation, the people He loves. Dodger, God was not aloof during this crisis. He was involved, He was there, and He felt for you, your cousin, and your grandma. You might not have felt it, but it still happened. Does that answer your question?
Dodger: I hadn't thought of it like that.
Lilly: When we don't feel God it can seem like He just isn't there. God is always there, though, and He is constantly looking out for us. When things go wrong, He's just as sad as we are. We need to remember that sometimes. There's no shame in needing to take time and remember. Hard things happen and it takes time to get the reminder, but when we turn to God for comfort, even if we aren't aware of it, He is still working in our hearts and making things better. Don't forget that.
Dodger: Thanks, Lilly. I needed a reminder.
Lilly: I'm glad I could help. Remember, Dodger, Jesus loves you.
Dodger: And that's not about to change. Yep, I understood that reference. I guess we need to head out.
Lilly: Yep. Ciao for now!
Dodger: Later!
There You Are
-Lilly
God, why did this happen here?
Can't you see it's caused me fear?
I can't stand this kind of stuff!
Lord, please, stop it! It's too tough!
Can't I at least see your hand?
God, just help me understand!
I know you're there. I'm sure it's true,
BUT I'M UNABLE TO SEE YOU!
"Dear child, I promise I didn't leave.
It's hard to suffer or be bereaved!
Believe me, I know, it's happened so oft,
It has hardened hearts that were once soft.
Yes, I'm still here, and I love you.
I'm sorry that this happened, too.
I promise it'll work out for the best.
Keep trusting me. I'll take care of the rest.
You might not feel me, but I'm still here.
I completely understand your fear.
I'm holding you now. We'll make it through.
Believe me, child, that's what I do."
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