1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17 / Romans 2:1-24/ Psalm 10:16-18 / Proverbs 19:8-9
The goodness and kindness of God, although undeserved by all of us, is poured out on every single person on earth. This kindness is poured out whether we are aware and whether we receive and are thankful for God’s Grace to us or not. Breath, health, peace, provision, rain, friendships – all of these are evidence of God’s blessing upon us. How many are aware, and how many give to Him the thanks He deserves?
Twice in my reading today I noticed the writer giving thanks for God’s kindness and promises. In 1 Chronicles 17:16-27 David is praying and thanking God for the promised legacy given in and through his family. And in Romans 1:4 Paul reminds us that God’s kindness is intended to turn us from our sin.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, God is not an angry God waiting to destroy us when we do something wrong! He loves us in our mess and in our sin. How could He not? For one, we are all still wrestling through sin and imperfection. And secondly, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin, so now we are the very righteousness of God through Him.
Are we aware of how blessed and rich we are? I understand that all of us face trials – sickness, loss, relational difficulty, etc. but that does not mean we are not blessed. It simply means we are living on planet earth. Every single person faces difficulty, and every single person faces blessing. Some difficulty may seem worse than others, but God has given grace to that person to walk through that dark place.
And some may appear to be more blessed than others but remember that with blessing comes responsibility. Some may welcome the weight of blessing with responsibility, and some may be thankful to lead a quiet life. To whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48)
I can’t move on from the topic of trials without acknowledging there are terrible injustices in the world. Some live with unbearable circumstances through no fault of their own – suffering horrible things no one should ever have to suffer. It is for those we pray justice and freedom. There is a very real evil force that affects the earth and that causes all kinds of chaos. Thankfully, that evil will be destroyed in the end.
If you find yourself in a hard circumstance, or a difficult trial, I encourage you first to pray and ask God for help. Secondly, please feel free to reach out to me for prayer; I’d be glad to partner with you. Finally, ask God to reveal a blessing to you – or a truth, or a promise – something that you can hold onto in the midst of your suffering. It is in those dark seasons we most need an anchor to hold onto.
Our greatest anchor is, of course, Jesus Christ. He stills our soul when chaos comes. And He promised never to leave us. Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT says, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Please take that to heart today!
