Thursday 2 April 2009

More from "God is Able" in "The Strength to Love" by M.L. King, Jr.

Let us notice, finally, that God is able to give us interior resources to confront the trials and difficulties of life. Each of us faces circumstances in life which compel us to carry heavy burdens of sorrow. Adversity assails us with hurricane force. Glowing sunrises are transformed into darkest night. Our highest hopes are blasted and our noblest dreams are shattered.
Christianity has never overlooked these experiences. They come inevitably. Like the rhythmic alternation in the natural order, life has the glittering sunlight of its summers and the piercing chill of its winters. Life brings periods of flooding and periods of drought.

Many times these are the only troubles we talk about. We leave the troubles of the world and injustice and hunger, etc. for other discussions. But reality is, we all must face the days of our lives when things crash in on us and we are not sure how we will walk through them or when we will move to a new place where the pain is not as great as it is now. In all things and through all times, we are told throughout Scripture that our God is able to encourage us in all things. This does not mean that we will be spared from the bad stuff of life. There is no magic that comes when we trust our God who promises to be with us. There is, the assurance that in and through all things we are being held onto and embraced with a love that will not stray from us. Therefore, when we are attacked by life's stormy days, there remains this blessed assurance that gives us our foundation on which we can stand or sit and face whatever will come. Then...on the other side of the storms, we find that we are still embraced and becomes the power to continue on just as the beloved we were before storms raged around us.

Connection: This is really where we need one another - An extra voice to remind us of the fact that God is able to bring life - always.

Blessed God, you continue to remind us of your love for us even when we are being beaten down by the powers of the day. When we cry out, you are present. When we are being pulled down by the sadness and brokenness in our lives, you are present. Praise to you, O God. Amen.