The things that happen in our lives are not random, unforeseen occurrences that catch the Father unaware. He never says to Himself, “Wow, I never expected that.”, or, ” Oh my, I wish I’d have known that was going to happen. I would have done something to prevent it.” He’s never surprised, disappointed or befuddled. He knows about it before it happens. He knew it before we, or our parents, or their parents, parents, parents, parents, parents were even conceived. And yet, He still chose us. He chose to love us, to care for us and to provide not ceremonial ablution, but complete absolution for the errors we would make in our lives.
We make our plans, we plan our course, we determine our actions, and He is there. He is there, knowing before hand what our minds have conceived, what our hearts hold, what our mistakes will render. And He still chose us. He still extends His hand, He still sends His Spirit, He still sent His Son to cover for the inane, foolish, fruitless and selfish decisions He knew we would make in our pitiful little lives. And He is there. Still.
And so, we can say, “Here am I Lord”. Not in the voice of one who is waiting for Him and willing to do His will like Samuel, but in the voice of one like Peter, who warming himself at the enemy’s fires must have thought in his heart, “What am I doing here? Here of all places! Here in this place that you told me not to venture, but that You knew I’d end up! Here in this place where You would not even enter. Here am I Lord.”
I find myself in that place many times, even today, and I say to Him, “Here am I, Lord. Please forgive me and deliver me from this place!”
Today is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Today is the day that He overcame all the sin that plagues our lives and prevents us from going forward with Him. Today is the day that we can leave it all behind and say with Samuel instead of Peter, ” Here am I Lord.”
Say it with me, “Here am I, Lord”.
