This past week has been a week of bad news. On four separate occasions I have been driven to my knees with concern for people that are very dear to me. At the same time, our adult Sunday School class is studying the book of James -- and these words have been running through my mind all week:
"Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you KNOW that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance FINISH ITS WORK so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
I know that the people directly affected by the bad/sad news of this week are all believers in Jesus. And I know that their faith is not some "pie-in-the-sky", "opium of the people", blind faith. Their faith has shaped them, it has defined them, and today it is what sustains them.
I believe that each of these people will persevere through their current trials and, as a result, they will emerge from this season of life with a faith that is more mature and more complete than it was before. Will they still have moments of worry? Of course. Will tears be shed? Absolutely. Might they even wonder "Why me?"? Possibly. Will they throw in the towel and give up on their faith? No stinkin' way.
For me, these dear ones are living proof of the Good News that we call "the Gospel." Not only do we believe that Jesus died for our sins, saving us from eternal separation from God, but we also believe that He is intricately, directly involved in our lives on a daily basis. Does that mean nothing bad will ever happen to us as children of God? Of course not. But it does give us the hope and confidence that a loving God is willing and able to meet our needs....ALL of our needs....even when our circumstances scream to us that all is lost.
As I think of my own life, and the life of my immediate family, I am grateful that today we are in a season of peace. Everyone is happy, everyone is healthy.....life is good. But, there have been trials in the past that have shaken us to the core, and there will inevitably be trials in the future that will test our faith. In those moments,. I pray that God will grant us the grace to "count it all joy", and that we will emerge with a faith that is more mature, more complete for having walked with our God through the darkness.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Give Thanks
My Facebook friends have probably noticed that I am on a personal crusade to preserve the month of November as a time of giving thanks. Yes, we should be thankful every day, in everything, but there is something special and unique about a national holiday set aside for the sole purpose of gratitude.
Thanksgiving is particularly meaningful to me this year. A year ago I was in a very dark place, emotionally and spiritually. I felt battered, worn out, and abandoned by God. By His grace, I emerged from that dark place to once again find a place of hope, peace and trust. A HUGE part of that process was learning to be thankful -- IN all things and FOR all things (I Thessalonians 5:18).
God used my husband as my tutor in this process. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Geoff is a man of deep faith. My first response is to doubt, his is to trust. My first response is despair, his is hope. My first response is fear, his is confidence in our God. Throughout the summer and fall of 2012, when my doubt, despair and fear would overwhelm me, he would simply remind me of the goodness of God and call me to believe.
Over time, I learned to see the good that was happening in our lives. Our finances had taken a huge blow, but we were still able to pay our bills and feed our family. Our new house was not the "house of our dreams", but we have grown to love it and it has truly become HOME. I began to embrace an initially disappointing job, and saw the good in being in the same school as my little boy. Our 11 year old car with a faulty transmission is still running and meeting our needs. Our new church has become our spiritual family in Virginia, and has given us a place to serve and be served. Our three children have, for the most part, adapted and settled into their new lives in America. When I chose to be thankful, and see the good, I was overwhelmed by God's provision, care and protection.
This is why I am so determined to honor the tradition of giving thanks. This past year has been a startling lesson on how the simple act of gratitude really can change your life. The good is there...God's grace is there...God's presence is there....we just need to see it and thank Him for it.
Come December 1st, I will pull out my advent wreath and advent calendars and REJOICE that the Christmas season has arrived. But, until then, I am determined to focus on giving thanks, and I invite you all to join me!
Thanksgiving is particularly meaningful to me this year. A year ago I was in a very dark place, emotionally and spiritually. I felt battered, worn out, and abandoned by God. By His grace, I emerged from that dark place to once again find a place of hope, peace and trust. A HUGE part of that process was learning to be thankful -- IN all things and FOR all things (I Thessalonians 5:18).
God used my husband as my tutor in this process. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Geoff is a man of deep faith. My first response is to doubt, his is to trust. My first response is despair, his is hope. My first response is fear, his is confidence in our God. Throughout the summer and fall of 2012, when my doubt, despair and fear would overwhelm me, he would simply remind me of the goodness of God and call me to believe.
Over time, I learned to see the good that was happening in our lives. Our finances had taken a huge blow, but we were still able to pay our bills and feed our family. Our new house was not the "house of our dreams", but we have grown to love it and it has truly become HOME. I began to embrace an initially disappointing job, and saw the good in being in the same school as my little boy. Our 11 year old car with a faulty transmission is still running and meeting our needs. Our new church has become our spiritual family in Virginia, and has given us a place to serve and be served. Our three children have, for the most part, adapted and settled into their new lives in America. When I chose to be thankful, and see the good, I was overwhelmed by God's provision, care and protection.
This is why I am so determined to honor the tradition of giving thanks. This past year has been a startling lesson on how the simple act of gratitude really can change your life. The good is there...God's grace is there...God's presence is there....we just need to see it and thank Him for it.
Come December 1st, I will pull out my advent wreath and advent calendars and REJOICE that the Christmas season has arrived. But, until then, I am determined to focus on giving thanks, and I invite you all to join me!
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