Some sections of Charles Spurgeons's devotional book, Morning and Evening, from July 21:
Can you answer this, believer? Can you find any reason why you are mourning instead of rejoicing?...Don't you know that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter? Hope then! Hope always! For God does not fail you. Don't you know that your God loves you in the midst of all this?...Cause the desert to ring with your exulting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be over, and then "forever with the Lord" your bliss shall never wane.
I found these parts encouraging and convicting. I realize that I am complaining every time something inconveniences me and my day. This sounds weird to me but we need to be thankful even when things happen that aren't in our will. I can think of numerous things that happened today that didn't go the way I wanted them to go and my first and automatic reaction is to whine. I don't want to complain because Ian's not fully with us and can't do what we always use to do together, I should be thankful that he's even here. We should be thankful that we are saved and can find peace with God. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). I have heard David and Mr. Altrogge (our pastor) give thankful words to God whenever something "went wrong." That is great a example to set for others. That is something that I am driving to accomplish just once.
And don't forget, Jesus didn't complain, let's do the same.
"Can you find any reason why you are mourning instead of rejoicing?...Cause the desert to ring with your exulting joys..."
Pray that God would help Ian, especially, to be at peace and not to complain.
-Caleb
4 comments:
Caleb this is so true...
Thank you for the reminder and sharing what the Lord is showing you about what it means to follow him with all that you are. I am so quick to complain in trials as well, but thank God for His grace to reveal that and teach us how to act instead to glorify Him!
Can't wait till vacation (I'm at the Hall's right now and we're all excited!)
see ya soon kid,
cousin rebekah
Great!
Caleb, your wisdom is far beyond your years. You have posted before (on impatience) and I have saved it because it really challenged me.
Now you are challenging me once again, this time to not complain. This post has been saved as well.
I pray that the intensity of God's grace during this time will overwhelm all of you with peace and you will experience His presence in a wonderful way like never before. I pray this especially for Ian.
Thank you again Caleb... please keep posting.
Praying for Ian...
Vicki G.
Caleb,
Thank you for your faith and your God-centeredness through this time. God is being glorified by your family, and by Ian.
Tell Ian that I'm praying for him, that he will remain firm in the faith and be encouraged and that he will emerge from this coma.
Chris Minich
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