The opening scene put goose bumps on my arms.

The comic relief of Timon and Pumbaa was spot on.

The way they stuck to the original story made me glad. 

But what surprised me most as I watched was when I thought of God. 

It’s everyone’s least favorite scene. (I may or may not have watched it with my hands over my face.) The stampede. Scar’s lies. Simba’s fear. 

I’m watching Mufasa fight to reach Simba, watching him fall and get back up, watching him almost make it and then Scar betray him. I knew this scene was coming – hello – but I’m still feeling sad, angry, and wish it wasn’t so. 

And God whispers…

That will never happen to me. 

And the weight lightens a little. 

There is unfair, devastating loss in this life. There is uncertainty, disappointment, pain and a vast amount of circumstances to grieve over. But there is One who will never die, never lose and never falter. 

I would be struck down if I lost my husband unexpectedly, but not destroyed.

I will feel persecuted by the reality of death when those closest to me pass away, but I won’t be abandoned.

I will feel hard pressed on all sides at times while I walk this earth, but I won’t be crushed.

I will be strongly perplexed by the suffering and pain in myself or others, but I won’t reach despair. 

I am a fragile clay jar containing an incredible Presence. The power I’ll have to continue living in the midst of suffering and loss will be God’s, not my own (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).

He promises He is always with us (Matthew 28:20).

He promises to never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

He is eternal (Psalm 90:1-2).

He can never be weakened (Isaiah 40:28-31).

His is always the victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-58).

He is the beginning and end of everything (Revelation 1:8).

He rules forever (Psalm 145:13).

He knows all things, can do all things and is everywhere at all times (Isaiah 46:9-10, Psalm 147:4-5). 

He will always be with me. 

I confess I want this to be true of my loved ones. I want my husband to always be with me. Our families. Our little girl. My friends. But it is only true of my greatest loved one, God.

As I watched the aftermath of Mufasa’s death, this fictional moment confronted me again with how finite and fragile we are. But peace swallowed up the fear because God, our truest and realest relationship, we’ll never lose. This is the reality that gives us hope in suffering.

---

One of the ways I’m trying to apply this truth is by learning His voice, in prayer and in Scripture. Dallas Willard calls it ‘sitting in the companionship of God.’ 

John 10 says that Jesus calls His own by name and leads them… His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (3,4). And every verse of the Bible was breathed by Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He leads us through the joy and the sorrow with His voice, His words and His nature.

How else can we cultivate a greater understanding, confidence and enjoyment of our eternal Father?

+ photo from billboard.com +