Thank you to all who expressed concern and contacted Linda this week after she wasn’t able to be with us on Sunday.  She’s fine now and we look forward to seeing you next week.  I tried to fill in for her during our Sunday school time but I don’t make a good Linda so I’m glad she’ll be back for the series finale.

I was happy to hear Pastor David’s message on trusting God through our troubles.  I believe God is speaking to us.  I had already planned the message that I will be bringing and it is an extension of the same subject.

Have you ever considered your suffering as a gift?  I admit that’s a tough concept and I’m not even sure I am comfortable with it.  How can a bad thing be a gift?  How can a good God give a gift like that?  We can argue about whether he does or allows something, but He is the all powerful and all knowing God.  Therefore nothing is beyond His knowledge or control.  If we truly believe what He said through Paul, that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Rom 8:28,) then we must believe that any bad thing that happens to us will ultimately be used for good.  This is how we can look upon our suffering as a gift.  It will lead to something good.

We can see this in the Bible.  I’ve chosen three people who will help us to see it: Joseph, Paul, and Jesus Himself.  I hope that by the end of the day we can all be a little further on our journey to that place where we can ask God, “How can I glorify You in this suffering?”  I am beginning to think of my blindness as a gift that opens doors for me to spread the love of Jesus in places where I would not otherwise have opportunity.  What opportunity might you find through your disability?

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Gen. 50:20 NASB)