THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
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Our lives can change in a moment. It might be an accident, a phone call, a diagnosis, a crime, or a disaster that engulfs us or our family. It might be something that no one but us notices, or it might capture the horrified attention of millions.
But whatever and whenever it might be, “the LORD will be at your side.” In Proverbs, this wisdom is presented as advice from a father to a son or child.
It is the voice of experience, perhaps reflecting on times in his own life when he recognized God’s presence with Him, even while threatened by or surrounded by disaster or ruin. Ideally, this should be an important element in our relationships and friendships with older people in our families, churches, and communities.
This is why we tell our stories and share our testimonies in church.
It is why we publish books that tell true stories of God’s protection and leading in times of war or other hardship. We borrow from each other’s stories and take courage from the experiences of those around us. In hearing such stories, we tend to hold our breath when we get to the moment of greatest peril—when the person might have been overwhelmed, defeated, or killed—even when we know how the story played out because, after all, the person is there telling the story. Particularly in our families and our communities of faith, we need to value the wisdom of those who are more experienced, especially those who can testify to the faithfulness of God in their most difficult times. These people and their stories are a valuable resource for growing an enduring courage and trust in God in our own lives.
They are the voices who can meaningfully urge us to “have no fear.”
