Why?

I saw a new doctor recently. It was sort of important that I see him. But my original appointment, scheduled back in August had to be cancelled because of a miscommunication in the doctor's office. The next available appointment was April 2026. Now, that might not seem so long in light of the fact it is now 2026, but in August of 2025, when I got the notice my appointment needed to be rescheduled and given the somewhat urgent nature of the appointment, it might as well have been a lifetime. But God. In the autumn, I got a notification that an appointment had opened up in December; did I want it? Did I want it?! Do rabbits run? Of course I wanted it! And there was an added bonus: the appointment would be free because, once again, the Murphys had met their out-of-pocket maximum for the year 2025. Thank You, Jesus! Quite a gift that was.

The morning of my appointment, I was meditating on Psalm 51. Scholars believe this was the psalm David wrote after being convicted of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murderous orders with regard to Uriah. In the Complete Jewish Bible, the passage begins:

God, in your grace, have mercy on me;
in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
Wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.

David continues to plead for restoration and forgiveness. Wash me. Renew me. Blot out my crimes. But for what purpose? Because he is deserving of forgiveness? Certainly not. Because he and God are tight like that? Not even because of that. Verse 15 provides us with an eternal purpose for God's forgiveness and mercy:

Then I will teach the wicked your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

Do this, Lord God, so that I might share Your character, Your might, Your holiness with others, and that they might come to know You and serve You.

I'm sure you've heard of people praying those "foxhole prayers." Maybe you've prayed one or two yourself. God, if You get me out of this I will... That's manipulation. That's an attempt to bargain with an infinite, almighty God. However, what David is saying is, "I see the purpose behind Your mercy --if You indeed grant me mercy. The gift of Your salvation, Your restoration is not without an eternal objective." David sees this as a cause for public celebration, an opportunity to exalt the name of his Savior, and bring others to know the magnificent, benevolent character of the God of Israel.

As we, on this New Year's Day, begin to contemplate goals --those attained and those abandoned in 2025, those we've set for 2026 --maybe one of our goals should be to look beyond the gift, to seek the purpose for each gift our Heavenly Father lavishes on us. Maybe there is something we are to be doing with the gift He gives. Did He save us to keep the Good News to ourselves? Maybe He is providing us with some gift we will need to share with someone this upcoming year. Maybe He is equipping us for a future calling. Maybe we will never know until we see Him face-to-face. But it certainly doesn't hurt to ask Him why. Why did He bless me with an early appointment? a free appointment?! on a day when many offices were closed and there was plenty of parking?!! Why this gift? Why now? What will You have me do with this gift? All for Your glory and fame!