When we are sitting on a beach on a beautiful day without a care in the world, we can't help but say “God is good!” When we land that dream job, get that college acceptance letter or even just snag a great parking space at the grocery store “Thank you Jesus” just rolls off the tongue. When your teen has been in an accident but you get the news that she's okay, you just want to shout “Praise you God!”
But what about in the hard times? What about those seasons of life when everything isn't perfect? When we've lost our job, when a friend or family member has relapsed, when the diagnosis confirms our worst fear. What role does our faith play on those days? Is God still there? In Psalm 34 King David wrote “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” King David, who saw both blessing and hardship in his own life, reminds us that we can praise God even in affliction, even through the storms of life.
In case you had not heard, Nicole has been in significant decline these past few weeks. We began Hospice care for her last week. Please keep her in prayer.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we ought to rejoice because of affliction (although Paul would say there can even be blessing in that). But I do believe we can give thanks that, in the midst of the storm, God is still faithful. He is still our rock, our refuge, our Redeemer. I believe even in the hardest of times we can still say “God is good.” And when our affliction, suffering or loss comes, we can still thank Jesus because he promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. He rejoices with us in the blessings of life and he comforts us in the struggles. Through it all he is always faithful.
I've never been under the illusion that being a Christ follower exempts us from hardship. Serving Christ does not guarantee an easy life (just ask the disciples or the apostle Paul). But what it does guarantee is that we won’t go through the hardest times of life alone. He surrounds us with a community of fellow believers to walk the journey with us. And by the presence of his Holy Spirit, he provides supernatural strength, help and hope to enable us to carry on. In good times or bad, I am grateful beyond words that we serve a God who is always faithful.
I hope you will join us this Sunday as we continue our new series “Journey of a Lifetime!” Online services at 9:00 am and 10:30 am at http://rockchurchnh.online.church
God Bless,
Pastor Steve