Not everything went according to plan yesterday. Moving was hard on all of us because it was hot, there was a bunch of stuff to move, the refrigerator did not want to leave the house without a fight and there was only the four of us: Me, my wife Jane, our oldest Nick and our youngest Kate. To say we were stressed (especially me) is an understatement. Then, when we finally got up the new place at 9 PM, we could not get any of the vehicles up the steep driveway. The ground was too wet and the vehicles too heavy. Unloading is going to be fun and we still have to go back to Greenville to get the stuff we could not get yesterday. (The truck is due back on Monday.) To say I am feeling discouraged is also an understatement.
Then there’s 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Our old pastor used to tell us that obedience must come first. Feelings will follow along after. I know this is true from personal experience because Jane and I have been through worse troubles and while at the time we could not see the good in it, we can see it now in hindsight. There are things that our family has gone through that have matured us in ways nothing else could have done. The hard things were necessary even if unpleasant.
It is God’s will in Christ Jesus that I give thanks in all circumstances. So, Lord, thank You for the difficulties we are currently facing and for what we are going to learn from them. Thank You for challenging our faith and our perspective. Thank You for a safe trip up here and for all the things we were able to move and for the fact we have a roof over our heads and beds to sleep on.
Our circumstances aren’t great right now. But my God is good. He knows and will meet our needs and for this I am thankful.
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Photo by Mathias Jensen on Unsplash
Grace in Waves 