Don’t Forget the Divine Factor

Don’t forget the divine factor.

It was his gentle reminder to me that my perspective was askew, that my focus needed realignment.

But look! I would argue. Look at all the problems. Look at the difficulties, the hardship, the mess, the weariness of it all. Dad, it’s so hard.

And he wouldn’t argue with me. Sometimes life is tough and heartbreaking. Sometimes it seems awful and unfair. Sometimes it breaks us. Sometimes it drags us down into the muck and mire. Sometimes we can make different choices going forward that will help. Sometimes, we must accept reality and learn a new way to live. Even still – gently, lovingly, my dad would say,

Don’t forget the divine factor.

In another story – in a Bible passage – I’m reminded that I’m not alone in this struggle:

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17

When we look around us with eyes only towards what the physical eye can see, life is insurmountable. We feel as if we are drenched in ocean spray – or even capsized.

But my dad was right. That divine factor – that remembering that we are not fighting alone nor even with our own limited power – that is what makes the difference, in our hearts right now and with our eternal victory someday.

Photo (top) by Ryan Pernofski on Unsplash
Photo (bottom, with inserted scripture) by Gerardo Araya on spark