Rev. Richard Smith
I Corinthians 2:9 Words Of Paul
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived, the things that God has prepared for those who love him.
Well, we’re all about to plunge into the special time known as Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving 2021 comes, as has often been the case, in the midst of some truly challenging times. The familiar quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities pretty well sums it up:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief; it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light; it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Few of us question that these words do indeed apply to our current life experiences.
Yet, we people of the Christian faith do not define the “best” or “worst” by the unfolding of contemporary events. To do so would mean we are spiritually and emotionally yanked from joy to despair, from hope to misery without any solid spiritual footing.
Keep in mind that throughout Christian history faithful followers of Jesus and dedicated children of God have had to weather “the worst” and “the darkness” without giving into despair. Yes, as I noted in my piece, On Confident Trust In God, we can struggle with much that life brings. But, in the end, we know that we are blessed and that there is reason to hang our hats on the good, the beautiful, and the true. It’s, again, a choice we make…the choice to count our blessings rather than be overwhelmed by our burdens.
For example…
We Have The Blessing Of People Who Care
You and I, whatever our life journey, can and should give hearty thanks for all the people who’ve stood beside us; held our hands; whispered encouragement; and been willing to give heart and soul for our enrichment. Family. Dear friends. Prayer advocates. Helpful spiritual mentors. Pastors. Colleagues. All giving of themselves so that our lives can be fuller and richer.
We Have The Blessing Of Opportunities
Getting lost in the headlines, as I’ve noted, can cause any of us to wonder where and why we hope. But, there always exists opportunities for you and me to do our part; to make a worthwhile difference.
There is no issue, no human hurt, no distressing claim that we cannot help address. We just need to recognize what we can do, seek God’s guidance for specific action, and then bravely step forward to help compel change. We can and should this Thanksgiving give God hearty thanks for the ways He can use us in the betterment of our communities and our world.
We Have The Blessing Of God’s Unwavering Love
I wrote back in September about “the wonder of God’s unmerited grace”. I said then, and we need to celebrate every single day, that “God loves his children and He wants us to know that his grace and love are ever available to us”; “that we are the undeserving recipients of a magnanimous, loving Father”.
When you and I contemplate the wonder of God’s extraordinary and gracious love of and care for us, we should readily and regularly give thanks!!
We Have The Blessing Of Wisdom And Strength For All The Challenges
None of us are expected to navigate the pathways of life on our own resources. Isn’t that a true spiritual blessing?
As we seek it, God is ever ready to provide strength and to give wisdom. We can feel hope because we know there’s nothing “the worst of times” can bring which is beyond God’s desire and ability to sustain us. We may teeter; we may bend; but, with God’s divine assistance, we need not break.
| The Next “Ponderings” Offering Will Be Monday, November 29 |
