It is wrong to infer from prosperity that God is favorable toward us, and from suffering that God is angry. (Christianity Today – April 09)
Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7
There is so much that we do not understand about life–especially when it becomes difficult. But even though God’s ways are a mystery to the best of us, the wrong lessons that we might learn can bear greater consequences than faithfully moving ahead even when we do not understand. Lessons such as; don’t love again, it’s not worth trying, God doesn’t seem to care, or people are not worth it. These false lessons bear obvious consequences that create for us a seemingly small world and eliminate the possibility of a courageous comeback or the joy of contentment even in tough times. Nothing will more effectively preserve us in a straight and undeviating course in this economy than a firm persuasion that all events are under God’s authority and that he is as merciful as he is mighty. This should lead us to gratitude in prosperity, patience in adversity, and a wonderful security respecting the future.
We are prone to blame God in adversity and praise ourselves in prosperity–we murmur against God if he does not grant us quiet nests. We imagine that adversity can only come from someplace other than God; it is as if evil becomes a second god in our world view. But from a Biblical paradigm we recognize that nothing happens even when it is terrible and comprehensible that can stop our God from working towards his wider purposes. Nothing can thwart God’s eventual gracious purposes towards us in Christ. Paul does not say that all things are good, but he does say that God works all things together for good for his people and thatnothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8)
The Bible draws us a beautiful mosaic which demonstrates that God does care about our prosperity, and our suffering. He can be with us in both conditions working towards greater purposes. The story is a beautiful mosaic which includes Jeremiah 29, the book of Job and the suffering of Christ on the cross followed by the his victory on Easter. It is the handbook for new Christians living in the dump in Honduras and business leaders here in Washington whose prosperity or lack there of will impact manypeople for good or ill. It gives us a trust that truly does move mountains in each situation, but it is also our life-line to sanity and calm joy in spite of our difficulties.
The other night I was at University Hospital intensive care. Jackie and I had been there for hours and had brought a praise CD that Jackie had made for one of our life-long friends (with whom the doctors thought heaven was very close). We cried, we prayed and we laughed with the family. At 2am the nurse allowed us to have a worship service at the request of the patient (who in my eyes is one of the finest Christians I have ever met). We read from the scriptures, we anointed him with oil, we held his hand and prayed. And as his family slept this life-long friend said to me, “I don’t know how to pray?” I said to him, “You are in God’s hands. Right where we have both been so many times during the years of the adventure of raising our families and buildingWashington Cathedral.” He whispered to me, “I guess that is a good place to be” and a shining twinkle came to his eye.
The next morning the news from further tests was all good. A struggle was still ahead but God was obvious working just as he has throughout time. You and I need this kind of trust every time we face a challenge and every time we need to truly be thankful for the prosperity brought into our lives.
“God’s ways may be hidden but his gracious purposes are always right there for those who have eyes to see!!!”
We are prone to blame God in adversity and praise ourselves in prosperity–we murmur against God if he does not grant us quiet nests. We imagine that adversity can only come from someplace other than God; it is as if evil becomes a second god in our world view. But from a Biblical paradigm we recognize that nothing happens even when it is terrible and comprehensible that can stop our God from working towards his wider purposes. Nothing can thwart God’s eventual gracious purposes towards us in Christ. Paul does not say that all things are good, but he does say that God works all things together for good for his people and thatnothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8)
The Bible draws us a beautiful mosaic which demonstrates that God does care about our prosperity, and our suffering. He can be with us in both conditions working towards greater purposes. The story is a beautiful mosaic which includes Jeremiah 29, the book of Job and the suffering of Christ on the cross followed by the his victory on Easter. It is the handbook for new Christians living in the dump in Honduras and business leaders here in Washington whose prosperity or lack there of will impact manypeople for good or ill. It gives us a trust that truly does move mountains in each situation, but it is also our life-line to sanity and calm joy in spite of our difficulties.
The other night I was at University Hospital intensive care. Jackie and I had been there for hours and had brought a praise CD that Jackie had made for one of our life-long friends (with whom the doctors thought heaven was very close). We cried, we prayed and we laughed with the family. At 2am the nurse allowed us to have a worship service at the request of the patient (who in my eyes is one of the finest Christians I have ever met). We read from the scriptures, we anointed him with oil, we held his hand and prayed. And as his family slept this life-long friend said to me, “I don’t know how to pray?” I said to him, “You are in God’s hands. Right where we have both been so many times during the years of the adventure of raising our families and buildingWashington Cathedral.” He whispered to me, “I guess that is a good place to be” and a shining twinkle came to his eye.
The next morning the news from further tests was all good. A struggle was still ahead but God was obvious working just as he has throughout time. You and I need this kind of trust every time we face a challenge and every time we need to truly be thankful for the prosperity brought into our lives.
“God’s ways may be hidden but his gracious purposes are always right there for those who have eyes to see!!!”
“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord “...plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Pastor Tim White
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