Dear Church Family,
We move on to the next chapter in “When Grace Comes Home” where Terry Johnson addresses a “life-transforming” outlook God’s people can have during adversity. “Those who are certain that what happens happens by the hand of God look at life differently than those who don’t…The conviction that ‘God is the author of my circumstances’ enables the believer to live life with unparalleled peace and joy.” Terry points out that as we understand the sovereign work of God in our lives and then combine it with three key elements of Biblical faith, we can “rejoice in the great things He will do.”
First, we must expressed gratitude in the midst of adversity. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul tells of a thorn in the flesh sent to him by Satan. He pleaded three times for God to remove it. The Lord did not and instead told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then rejoiced in his weakness and even delighted in it! Job, after hearing of the destruction that came on his family said with thanks, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” James 1:2f puzzles us, yet we are called to “Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.” In a few weeks Romans 5:3 will call us to “rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance” and so much more!
Second, facing adversity with grace pushes us to contentment. Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 12:10, “For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (ESV) During the virus crisis few of us have endured what Paul suffered. We can learn from him as well as from a hymn writer who penned, “Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed; Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.” Paul reminded Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6, “Godliness will contentment is great gain.”
Third, hope allows God’s people to have a “fundamental optimism.” “Our hope rests in a sovereign God. Nothing is impossible for Him. ‘With God all things are possible.’ Jesus said (Mark 9:23). This gives me confidence and hope in the midst of shadows and darkness. I am resolute in the face of defeat knowing that God is able even to raise the dead.” Our spiritual father Abraham in hope “against all hope believed and so became the father of many nations” per Romans 4:18. His hope has been realized in the work of Jesus. That hope is our hope by faith in Christ.
Therefore, we can have a grateful, content and hopeful outlook each day as we live in this fallen world, knowing that God’s grace will sustain us and He will receive all praise and glory.
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin