Hello, Again
It's been well over a year since I put up an epistle. In that time I've married, moved to a new farm which I share with my bride, seven dogs, twenty-three chickens, and soon, two Angora goats. An idyllic, if sometimes messy, existence!
God is so good. Also in the last year He has seen fit to restore me to mental and emotional health that I have not enjoyed since I was a child. It's not necessary to go into detail; suffice it to say that He has healed an old wound of many years' duration and taken away the pain it engendered.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. " I Thessalonians 5:18.
What a challenge! The call, as I see it, is twofold. First, in every situation, whether pleasant or unpleasant, easy or hard, joyful or sorrowful, give thanks. Well, this requires quite enough discipline; in difficult or painful circumstances, to identify the good things God is nonetheless doing, and to thank Him for them? To find the energy for such an endeavor does not come naturally to us, so it must come to us supernaturally, that is, by the good assistance of the Holy Spirit. When we bend our will to obeying this dictate of God's, however, I believe He blesses our obedience in it and gives more grace.
The further step is even harder, but this is the challenge I have been feeling lately. Hold it before yourself and the Lord in prayer and see if you don't feel the challenge, too: "For everything give thanks." We might be able to manage that on a rainy day. After all, though we may not enjoy it, rain is good and necessary. Or when we stub our toe; it hurts but there's no real harm done and maybe it's a good reminder to watch where we're going! But what about a flood that destroys my home? What about a newborn baby who does not survive? What about lost jobs and mounting bills that destroy my financial security through no fault of my own?
Giving thanks for such things is always the farthest thing from our minds at those moments. Usually our prayer is "Why?" "Why did you let this happen, God? What I did do to deserve this? Haven't I tried to follow You, to keep Your commandments? Why am I being punished this way?"
Such complaining ill befits the saint of God. If we believe that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose"; if we believe He "knows the end from the beginning"; that "no weapon formed against us will prevail"; then we have no business questioning Him and and second-guessing Him, concluding in a difficult moment that He does not know or care what is best for us. And "best for us" does not necessarily mean new cars, nice houses, plenty of money, or even perfect health. "Best for us" is whatever brings us to the point of seeing that our strength, intelligence and talents are insufficient to the task, that all our righteousness is filthy rags, and that we don't have a clue what's best for us. What's best for us is whatever crucifies our flesh so that the life of Christ may be resurrected in us, learning to cast all our cares on Him and knowing - knowing - that He does all things well. When we begin to learn this, then we can start to give thanks for all things. Let's at least start with rainy days and stubbed toes.
There is at least one more good reason why we should give thanks for all things, and maybe this is easier. In John 16:33 Jesus made us two promises. Number one - "In the world you will have trouble". Yes, no problem grasping that one. We know about the trouble part, that all around and easy to see. "But", Jesus continued, "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Notice He didn't say "I will". He said "I have". It's all taken care of, child of God. Whatever you may be going through, the end will be victorious and glorious, because Jesus has overcome. The next time we find ourselves in trouble, painful and hard, let's try thanking God for the overcoming in Jesus. The blessings will follow.
God bless,
- Chad
God is so good. Also in the last year He has seen fit to restore me to mental and emotional health that I have not enjoyed since I was a child. It's not necessary to go into detail; suffice it to say that He has healed an old wound of many years' duration and taken away the pain it engendered.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. " I Thessalonians 5:18.
What a challenge! The call, as I see it, is twofold. First, in every situation, whether pleasant or unpleasant, easy or hard, joyful or sorrowful, give thanks. Well, this requires quite enough discipline; in difficult or painful circumstances, to identify the good things God is nonetheless doing, and to thank Him for them? To find the energy for such an endeavor does not come naturally to us, so it must come to us supernaturally, that is, by the good assistance of the Holy Spirit. When we bend our will to obeying this dictate of God's, however, I believe He blesses our obedience in it and gives more grace.
The further step is even harder, but this is the challenge I have been feeling lately. Hold it before yourself and the Lord in prayer and see if you don't feel the challenge, too: "For everything give thanks." We might be able to manage that on a rainy day. After all, though we may not enjoy it, rain is good and necessary. Or when we stub our toe; it hurts but there's no real harm done and maybe it's a good reminder to watch where we're going! But what about a flood that destroys my home? What about a newborn baby who does not survive? What about lost jobs and mounting bills that destroy my financial security through no fault of my own?
Giving thanks for such things is always the farthest thing from our minds at those moments. Usually our prayer is "Why?" "Why did you let this happen, God? What I did do to deserve this? Haven't I tried to follow You, to keep Your commandments? Why am I being punished this way?"
Such complaining ill befits the saint of God. If we believe that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose"; if we believe He "knows the end from the beginning"; that "no weapon formed against us will prevail"; then we have no business questioning Him and and second-guessing Him, concluding in a difficult moment that He does not know or care what is best for us. And "best for us" does not necessarily mean new cars, nice houses, plenty of money, or even perfect health. "Best for us" is whatever brings us to the point of seeing that our strength, intelligence and talents are insufficient to the task, that all our righteousness is filthy rags, and that we don't have a clue what's best for us. What's best for us is whatever crucifies our flesh so that the life of Christ may be resurrected in us, learning to cast all our cares on Him and knowing - knowing - that He does all things well. When we begin to learn this, then we can start to give thanks for all things. Let's at least start with rainy days and stubbed toes.
There is at least one more good reason why we should give thanks for all things, and maybe this is easier. In John 16:33 Jesus made us two promises. Number one - "In the world you will have trouble". Yes, no problem grasping that one. We know about the trouble part, that all around and easy to see. "But", Jesus continued, "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Notice He didn't say "I will". He said "I have". It's all taken care of, child of God. Whatever you may be going through, the end will be victorious and glorious, because Jesus has overcome. The next time we find ourselves in trouble, painful and hard, let's try thanking God for the overcoming in Jesus. The blessings will follow.
God bless,
- Chad
posted by cft3 | 5:55 PM
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