Saturday, April 3: The Rest of the Story

1 Kings 3:16-28, Luke 23:50-56

When I was growing up, Paul Harvey, hosted the radio program The Rest of the Story. He would tell true stories, which seemed completely ordinary until he sprang the surprise twist on you. After he had revealed this unexpected outcome he would pronounce, “And now you know, the rest of the story.” Every year when I come to the last day of Lent I ponder that brief yet profound space between our life events, transitions, crossroads and… the rest of the story.

What must the disciples have been thinking after the events of Good Friday? Jesus had described His death and resurrection specifically, but “the disciples did not understand any of this – its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:34) So, how long must that space after His death have felt? How could they possibly imagine a positive outcome?

In 1 Kings, chapter three, two women and a baby appear before Solomon. Each woman claims that the baby is hers. Solomon says, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” Is there any sense in what is happening? Can we possibly fathom “the rest of the story”?

In the space between dilemma and outcome, where is our faith? Can God be trusted? How about the moment after a cancer diagnosis, or the days of “hang time” after being fired? How about the altered sense of reality immediately after the passing of a loved one? These challenging moments are the spaces that prepare us for God’s wisdom to be revealed and the unexpected to happen in our stories.

The Lord granted Solomon “a wise and discerning heart.” (1 Kings 3:12) As the story in 1 Kings continues we see the most unexpected twist happen as the real mother’s identity is revealed. Likewise, the most incredible twist in history occurs as the Son of Man is raised from the dead. Who could write such amazing stories but God? Can we not also imagine that God has written the rest of our stories and therefore we can trust Him with our lives?

Lord, as we wait in anticipation to celebrate Your resurrection, let us take great comfort in the fact that Your wisdom can be trusted. Help us to embrace the “spaces” and “hang time” in our lives as opportunities to grow our faith. Calm our hearts and bring us peace as we wait for the rest of the story. Amen.

Lisa Gibbs Smith