God Is At Work Upstream By Hannah Rule
How can such a horrible situation bring any hope?
Twelve years ago, my father passed away suddenly after multiple strokes and a week in the Neuro ICU. He was 52 years old, and I was 22 in my last semester of undergraduate college. Calling this event devastating barely covers what his death did to our lives. We have never been the same physically, mentally, and spiritually. You may ask, “How can such a horrible situation bring any hope?” A wise friend of my father taught us that “God is at work upstream.”
My father was a juvenile probation officer and ordained youth pastor. He lived his life answering God’s call to love and guide teenagers. His best friend, Brian, worked with him in youth ministry and eventually became a licensed counselor.
Brian and my father had dreams of forming a church or counseling practice to serve others further, but that dream was short-lived. My father passed away suddenly, and while we lost a father and husband, Brian lost his best friend. Brian was an amazing support for my mother and all of us. Brian volunteered to take on my father’s youth group to help them through this devastating time of losing their youth pastor.
Through the first three months without my father, Brian slowly taught the group that no matter what was happening in the Bible, God was at work upstream. We can see throughout scripture that in any situation, God had a plan to use it for His glory. At the end of the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery, thrown into prison, and eventually was made second in command to Pharaoh.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today.” Genesis 50:20 ESV
Joseph saved Egypt from succumbing to a terrible famine by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream. Egypt and the people of Israel were saved because God was working upstream.
Generations later, in the book of Exodus, Moses walked the Israelites out of slavery overcoming many obstacles through the power of God.
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.’” Exodus 14:13-14 ESV
The Egyptians chased Moses and the Israelites, Moses parted the sea after they were led by a pillar of smoke and a pillar of fire, and only the Egyptians were swept away when the sea closed. God was working upstream.
Generations later, in the established Israelite nation, King David’s son, Solomon, built the temple where the priests would offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of the Israelite people and where the ark of the covenant would be held. This temple was built through the long journey of David and his children serving God and making many mistakes.
“‘You know that David, my father, could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune.And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’” 1 Kings 5:3-5 ESV
Despite years of detours, enemies, and tragedy, the temple was still built through the line of David. God was working upstream. God was always working upstream. God appointed judges, kings, and prophets to lead the people of Israel, all while knowing they would continue to stray. God knew the ultimate sacrifice, His Son Jesus, would come and take the place of all sinners. “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,’” Luke 4:18 ESV. After generations of straying from God, our Savior, Shepherd, and King had come to work the brokenness of the world out for good, God has been working upstream from the very beginning
Brian understood that none of us would ever understand why my father, such a loyal servant of God, compassionate friend, and faithful father and husband, passed away when he did. We still do not understand. But God is at work upstream. We are in the present, only seeing the part of the stream in front of us. We have no idea what is coming around the bend or even what the end of the stream looks like. We only see the effects of what is happening upstream.
Brian taught us that we can have hope in what God is doing upstream because while we may not understand, it is always for God’s glory. Later in life, Brian would officiate my wedding and preach at my ordination service. He became a mentor for me when I was thinking about changing careers. Tragically, Brian passed away last September 2021 at 52, the same age my father was when he passed. God worked through Brian not only for us but for so many for many years upstream.
Brian’s favorite scripture was repeated during the entire time he was in the hospital:
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Brian has left a legacy that I can still see God working through. God is still working upstream. Telling people to have hope in the middle of tragedy does little to comfort them, but assuring them that God has always walked beside and uplifted the oppressed and grieving can bring a glimmer of hope. Hope does not need all of the questions answered or everything to be made perfect.
Hope remains when we trust that God is still working even when we do not see any evidence. I will never understand why my father and Brian had to pass away early in their lives, but I have seen firsthand that God is at work upstream.
I am currently a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student working towards becoming a licensed counselor. I received my Master’s of Divinity from Mercer University’s seminary school in 2020 and have worked and served in the church through youth ministry for over 14 years. I am an ordained minister and am currently a Family Coach and Behavioral Aide working with foster children at the Methodist Children’s Home. I live in Macon, GA with my husband of four years, Patrick, and we absolutely love being aunt and uncle to our three nieces and nephew. I am excited to be writing more and hope God uses my words to reach those that need to know they are loved.