A sweet friend messaged me some encouragement the other day. I love how God uses people like that; a small nudge of the Holy Spirit, responded to in a timely fashion, often hits just when and where hurting souls need it most. This friend has two small children and no doubt, her days are full and hard and her hours are choked by the physical work of car seats and sippy cups and oh my gosh, don’t put that in your mouth! But she took a few moments from her most important job and reached out to me, and it mattered.
It mattered because things here felt heavy, despite all the blessing. One of our ministry partners had reached out for prayer regarding their son. Mary Hannah was feeling the sting of a class on the chopping block. Jack had just messaged me from Flight Academy to report that he was thisclose to his first solo flight. Babita had just called, and the ache of missing her and her milestones was blazing in our hearts. John Mark’s new diagnosis clouded every moment. And our outreach to churches in the search for new partners in our ministry had been met with passive silence.
It was not a celebratory day. Not a bad day. But not a great one, either.
And then, this note. This huge reminder that the story is bigger than finances or pilot’s licenses, than distance or whether or not your plans have come to fruition. We are loved. We are woven into the fabric of God’s grace, of His people, and of His plan.
It’s so easy to forget this one, overarching blessing in the midst of the labor of life. It’s so easy to simply fall into the routine of piecing out the material blessings, or the “at least this hasn’t happened.” or too be thankful for where you are.
And I’m not saying that’s bad. Not at all. But also, it’s not the point.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. —1 Peter 1:3-5
It is enough, any day, to know that we have living hope. It is enough to know that the gift of salvation is safeguarded, and cannot be snatched away. It is enough to know that our time here on earth encourages the saints, points others to Jesus, and ends in en eternity spent in a place too holy to be defined.
My friend thanked me for encouraging her. She thought I had blessed her. And maybe I have. But in that small note, she returned the favor ten-fold. Today, whatever it holds, I will cling to something far deeper than what I can see and number as gifts. I will focus on the wide-screen view of the Christian faith. I have been bought with a price and am promised a reward that echoes into eternity with its beauty. That reminder has shaken a not-terrible day into one filled with joy. Thank you, friend, for a right perspective returned!
Very good! 💖 Your plates are full & spinning. Hugs!
I read a few weeks ago that children and new Christians should be taught Ecclesiastes first. Life is hard. Hard!
You know. I do too. People do in different ways.
But I’ve been thinking on this. I know you know.