Anchors for the Soul: The Cloud of Witnesses and the Crowd of Witnesses

2023 was a terrible year for me and my family. One of the worst things that could happen, did. Yes, I recognize that every bad situation could be worse. I recognize that others have gone through even more terrible and grievous situations. And at the same time, for my family, 2023 really has been the worst thing to take place. But I say that while trusting God.

The Cloud of Witnesses to God’s Character

Looking back, I see two anchors that helped my soul to keep trusting in God. The first is a theological anchor. What is true? Right now, as a widower, nothing has changed in my Bible. God’s character has not changed. He is not less good than He was. I say that now, and my late wife said it before she entered her inheritance. We knew that God is only and always good. We knew that He takes evil and sin and uses them for His plan to do good to those who love Him. We knew that we can’t always understand those details in the moment, and that we believe this by faith — trusting in His words to us.

One way I see this is in Hebrews 11, known to some as the “hall of faith.” In this passage, we have no less than seventeen examples of people who trusted God but didn’t see the reward they were promised by Him. The names are the “big” names too. David, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Joseph all make the list. But some “lesser” names are in as well. Gideon, Barak, Sampson, and Jephthah all made the cut. Not to mention the “prophets” as a whole.

What is the point of God promising His people something, but then not delivering what He promised? Of course, they all have received the promise now that they have died and are with the Lord. But why offer something and then wait to deliver until after this life is over? I believe there could be many reasons for this, and I want to be clear that this is my thinking as I am processing right now. But it honestly seems that in all these cases God’s goodness is being declared. Consider; each of the examples in Hebrews 11 had to believe in God’s goodness so much that they would trust Him until the very end. This lines up with Job’s example. Satan’s attack, in my opinion, had absolutely nothing to do with Job and everything to do with trying to show that God only receives worship if He blesses people. Satan’s argument seems to be “Hey God, you aren’t really that good since you have to bribe people with health and wealth to get them to worship you.” When Job continued to worship, even after everything had been taken from him, Satan’s argument fell flat.

Scripture gives many reasons for suffering (James 1; 2 Cor. 1; 1 Peter 2-3; etc.), so I don’t want to claim this is the only explanation (also, see this link to a recent episode where we all discuss what I have learned from this trial). And in the moment you are watching your wife breathe her very last breath, this truth doesn’t take the tears away or make it any easier to sit there with her emptied earthly tent. But the cloud of witnesses who stood fast on the solid theology of God’s character, really are an anchor for your soul. Even if you don’t quite understand this in the moment.

The “Crowd” of Witnesses

The second anchor point for my soul has come from what I’m going to label the “crowd” of witnesses. We will say that the only difference between the “cloud” and the “crowd” is that the crowd are those who are alive today. They haven’t yet gone before to their eternal home with God, but they have walked a few more steps down the path. Each of us has a different group we come in contact with, so everyone’s crowd might be a bit different. Some are close friends, while others are friends we only have gained through our suffering.

I know a friend and former student who walked a terribly difficult path of suffering. She came through it with trust in the Lord, only to face terrible suffering again when she lost her husband, only three days into their honeymoon. I have watched her in the last few years as she continued to walk with the Lord in spite of such sorrow. Today she is engaged to wonderful believer and continues to testify to God’s goodness. She hurt, she cried, and she sorrowed. But she still trusts and would testify that God is good.

One member of my crowd is a very well known blogger who lost his son tragically. He has written books and been open about his suffering and sorrow through his online ministry. Many of his posts edified me and my wife long before we also faced a path of sorrow. While having only met face to face once, he has encouraged me through his example of trusting God no matter what happens.

A close friend lost his son tragically and unexpectedly 2 years ago. He and his wife live with sorrow and grief. When Robyn died, he was at my house the next day. He didn’t call. He didn’t ask if he could come, he just came. He made the long trek to my house from another state and sat with me in my home and talked. In the past he and his wife had done similar things both times when Robyn had cancer. Driving no small distance to leave a bag of groceries and toys on our doorstep, just to be an encouragement.

One last example is in order. A fellow widower has blessed me before he knew me through his online ministry. His writings on being a dad of three girls have encouraged me as I try to master the ponytail hairstyle and try to figure out how to navigate the widower’s life with little kids. We’ve messaged a handful of times. We’ve never met. But his kindness and example of trust have been another little anchor point for my soul.

What can I say about those who have ministered sacrificially to me but have not walked this path? My entire church and the ministry I work for have sacrificed for my family time and time again. More than 68 meals and many offers to clean my house are just the tip of this gigantic iceberg of kindness that has been shown to my family. And yet, when I stop to think, I realize that almost everyone has felt the bitter taste of sorrow. Yes, for some it’s been very different than my path. But nonetheless, these also demonstrate their trust in the Lord by sacrificing for my family.

Walk in the Fear of the Lord: You Don’t Know Who is Watching

I think the point here is that my “crowd” of believers did not set out to encourage me personally (for the most part). They were just believers walking faithfully with their God, no matter what trial the Lord stewarded to them. Sometimes we look at life and think “well, I really am not making much of a difference.” We don’t see results, conversions, changes, etc. that we want to see (and God desires). But remember that a life lived in the fear of the Lord will always be a life He can use. You may not see how, but that isn’t really our responsibility. Ours is to walk humbly and faithfully before our God.

So as you think through your goals for this new year, remember to prioritize your walk with the Lord. Of course, it will change your own life for the better! But remember, others are watching. Often you won’t even see who watches your life. They need a “cloud” of witnesses from their Bible, but they also need a “crowd” of witnesses from the very real lives they are living each day. Who knows. God might put you into their “crowd.”