Lost in translation

This morning when I was flipping through statuses on Facebook, I stopped for a moment at one.

It read, "Oggi è un giorno buono."

I don't speak Italian, or read it for that matter so I didn't actually know what it said. I do speak some Spanish however, in fact once upon a time I was relatively fluent, but if you don't use it, you lose it. But there remain enough in my memory bank to recognize the connection between buono and beuno to know my friend was saying that something was "good."

I don't actually know this Facebook friend very well "IRL" (In Real Life)- truth be told I'm not even positive we've had more than a short conversation or two in person. But I have seen enough of her on Facebook and observed her and her faithful service around the church we both attend to know, somewhat confidently, that whatever it was that she was saying, I probably agreed with her. Whatever she said was good, was good. I was confident, what I knew of her and her character was enough for me to feel confident that I could take her at her word, even if what she said was hard for me to understand, lost in translation, if you will.

Immediately, the Lord spoke to my heart.

How often is He "speaking" something into our lives that we don't understand. Perhaps the "words" are tinged in heartache, or even drenched in sorrow. Perhaps our attempts to understand what is happening in our lives is confusing We find ourselves struggling to comprehend the meaning, what in the world is God trying to say?

It's in those moments in our lives that we have to take God at his "Word" not because we fully understand what is being said, but because of the history we have with Him. We have to rest back on what we do know, rather than what we don't understand. We have to choose to look to His character and know that that is enough to be confident of the truth that we don't understand.

My friend did post the translation. "Oggi è un giorno buono" means "Today is a good day."

Today is a good day when we acknowledge God's hand in it. God has given His kids so many promises, that even what we do not understand, even hard and hurting things, we know will serve purpose, because the Lord has promised they would. He has promised to be with us in the midst of even the darkest times and most difficult challenges. Dare I say perhaps we are never more aware of His presence that in those dark days? Which that alone makes them that much more valuable.

God's character is sure, and that is why whatever He "speaks" into our lives, we can trust even if we struggle to understand. Look to Him. He is trustworthy.

As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:7-9

This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

My friend was right, ""Oggi è un giorno buono." Today is a very good day.




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