I originally posted about this phrase and these bumper stickers on February 17, 2009, the week my sweet mother was diagnosed with metastatic gallbladder cancer. And since that day—when the bumper sticker "just happened to" fall out of my Bible—this little acronym has come to mean a great deal to me.
Our church distributed the bumper stickers to everyone one Sunday morning nearly three years ago. And on occasion, when I see another igbok car around town, I feel a sense of kinship with the person or people inside. A sense of family. And a renewed sense of hope.
In case you can't read the card in the background of the picture that explains the eternal truth behind igbok, here it is:
it's gonna be o.k.
We believe igbok is the universal
language of hope.
When a child skins a knee or gets
their feelings hurt; when the medical tests aren’t good; when fear rolls in
like a storm and anxiety hovers like a fog; when dreams die and hope seems to
evaporate; when life isn’t going the way we hoped it would — aren’t these the
words we long to hear — and believe?
What if God — the creator, sustainer
and redeemer of creation — made this promise? What if He shouted and whispered
“igbok” from Genesis to Revelation? He’s the only one who could make
this promise — and keep it. If He did, then we have reason to hope.
We think He did.
God’s “o.k.” doesn’t mean that the
cancer will be healed, the relationship fully restored, the physical pain or
emotional ache will go away in this life. It means that because He has entered
and overcome our brokenness…we can live this life with real hope — a hope that
knows one day everything will be set right forever in the life to come.
Now that's something to be hopeful about, isn't it? And it's a hope that won't disappoint. Because it's been guaranteed with the blood of Christ.
Sometimes this life can feel so long. When loved ones are suffering, or when we must whisper the dreaded "Goodbye, for now." Or when sickness or illness plague these earthly bodies of ours. Then at other times, I turn around and wonder where the first fifty years went. Poof! Gone in a flash. And it makes me wonder how quickly the years facing me will fly.
My prayer, first of all, is that we'll live in the moment, something I'm really working on. And secondly, that we'll savor every blessing––and trial––the Lord gives or allows, knowing… igbok.
I've got 8 igbok bumper stickers and I'd love to share them! If you'd like one, just leave a comment on this blog over the next week telling me what the hope behind igbok means to you. Then next Monday night at 8PM Central time, I'll draw eight names and will announce the winners here next Tuesday, January 21.
So glad we're in this together!
Tammy
Find out how igbok came to be
Tammy! I can't believe you wrote this post tonight..I am sure I was meant to read it! Given our circumstances at the moment, I would love a sticker. If I should be fortunate enough to win one, would you leave/send it to Judy and I'll collect it when I am over...I don't trust the Postie he might lose it.(that's another story)
ReplyDeleteYou asked me to keep you updated about our friend. I did send an email yesterday to you via gmail, but today's latest news is not good. The Drs are unable to control the internal bleeding.
It surely is in the hands of God and I am sad as I'm unable to tell him, "Goodbye."
Please would you think of Ron and his Family?
Tammy, Just to let you know that I finally mentioned two worship songs on your post last week. They may be of some interest.... better late than never..they say! :)
ReplyDeleteWell...I'll try again, LOL (posted a somewhat lengthy comment earlier, but Blogger "ate it" *sigh*). ~ LOVED this post, sweet Tammy--and I smiled as I read it, because just a few days ago I was thinking about your igbok post from several years ago! Such a reassuring and comforting thought--that no matter the outcome of a situation, it IS going to be okay. *smile* ~ A dear friend of Mama's reminded me of this many years ago when Daddy was clinging to life after a heart attack (he was on life support and the doctors gave us no hope). Thankfully the Lord gave us a dozen more wonderful years with Daddy, but at the time it didn't look good. Anyway, Mama's friend reminded me that whether Daddy lived or went to Heaven, either way he would be okay. At the time that was exactly what I needed to hear, and it's stayed with me all these years. ~ Then when you posted the story behind the bumper stickers with that same message a few years ago, I was reminded yet again of the comforting message of the hope we have in our Lord!! So thank you for sharing this message again with us--the Lord is using YOU to touch hearts more than you realize, precious Tammy. Love, Patti Jo
ReplyDeleteP.S. Dear Rosie, please know I've been praying for your friend, and for YOU, sweet lady.I'm sure this has been even more difficult for you being so far away. Love, PJ
Love the igbok story, Tammy. Like you, I'm trying to learn to live in the moment - more pointedly, trying to live for today and not worry about tomorrow, or next week, or next month, trusting God to take care of my tomorrows. And how I praise God for His faithfulness to draw me back to today, through a nudge or His still small (inner) voice, whenever my thoughts drift toward worries about tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTammy I think I live on "It's Gonna be Okay" every minute! I've shared this before, but I think it bears repeating. In a 5 year period I lost some of the closest and dearest people to me: Dad, friends like sisters, in laws, Mother, then husband. In between those times, there was much sickness, care giving and sadness. When it was over, I think I forgot how to be happy, I thought I had lost all joy. Since that time the Lord has taught me that I have to walk each day with Him and He continually whispers to me "It's Okay, I'm here." And He has proven to me that I am truly not alone and His JOY is mine!
ReplyDeleteHe is so very faithful.
On another note: I have finally gotten the time to read your latest book. I pre-ordered and it arrived in November, but the holidays were a blur for me. I had company for Thanksgiving and then was away for Christmas. So I am just now getting the time to sit down and really enjoy reading again. I started last night and already I am loving the characters I have met thus far! And let me just say that "Woman you really have a gift of words!" your descriptions made me really "see" the people and I was transported back to that time! Love it! already!
Tammy..thank you. Just yesterday we got the news that the surgery my best friend *and cousin)'s stepmother had last week was cancer. BFF lost her mother, and her Dad to that. Last summer she was by my side as Mom was in ICU on lifesupport for almost 2 weeks. A very special friend, and now distance makes it impossible for me to be with her as she was with me. Oh, and she hasn't been able to work or go see her sm because she is immobile with a bad back. Prayers covetted. Thanks
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention a saying i have that goes something like this...it will be ok in the end, if it's not okay, it's not the end.
ReplyDeleteI know that God has the message of IGBOK all through out the Bible. Without that belief, I cannot imagine going thru the day to day of life. I have 4 children that all came to us as newborns thru foster/adopt. Two are now in college & 2 are in middle school. Not only do they have the normal struggles of growing up, but they all have the added struggles of special needs (learning disabilities, mental & physical health problems) due to their birth mom's using drugs & alcohol while pregnant. Sometimes when I see them struggling, I get angry with the choices that the birth mom's made. But then I have to stop & remember Psalm 139:14 - my kids are wonderfully made by God - and God doesn't make mistakes. When I instead reflect on this message, then I have the reassurance that everything is going to be OK.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I haven't heard that phrase! Love it! When I compare my daily issues with others, they pale in comparison... but they are what God is using to teach me lessons and conform me to the image of His Son.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you posted about this bumper sticker of igbok. I shall have to research it to get my own coffee mug or something. LOVE how you expressed your faith and belief behind it as well. Fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very important reminder for me. I tend to worry about all the things that could, and usually don't happen. My husband always says - it's going to be ok! This visible reminder would remind me that God does have it all in control!
ReplyDeleteIgbok! I can't believe that I have not heard this before. What a reminder in the midst of the cancer my sister is dealing with and all the physical and mental things that are going on with my body. Most important to me is the fact that this body is only temporary! God has something better for me and you in the end! What a thought to dwell on as we realize It really is going to be okay in the end!! Thanks so much for your words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your hearts, friends. I'm praying for each of you and also your loved ones, and I'm thanking God that he's the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. There's nowhere we can go where he isn't already there. Appreciate you all.
ReplyDelete