God is on Our Side~

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory [and joy] just around the corner” 1 Peter 4:12-13.

Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus!

Five years ago my garage caught fire, and it was almost a total loss.  Among the items that were destroyed, however, was a little white linen dress I wore as a baby.   I mourned the loss of that remnant from my infancy because I had hoped to photograph one of my grandchildren in it one day. But a few days later there was news of another fire up north that completely destroyed a home and every single belonging inside of it displacing a family with children. Some family members had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment and were in critical condition. Immediately I found myself thanking God that my material loss was insignificant, and that no one in my family was hurt.  

Plus, the fire happened a couple of weeks after my daughter got married.  Had it happened earlier, the wedding items I was storing would have been lost.  Or what if it would had happened the actual weekend of the wedding when we were all out of town? 

The more and more I thought about it, the more and more I praised God.  It was a powerful reminder of what is truly important in my life, and that God is on the job and on my side.  And then, as I was unpacking some of the boxes that the fire remediation team had taken for clean-up and salvage, I came across a little coat and bonnet that was also from my childhood.

I recently had the pleasure of dressing up my granddaughter in the little outfit, and I was reminded all over again that joy is “just around the corner.”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes life gets really difficult, and we assume You’re not on the job.  Never ever let us jump to the wrong conclusion. Rather, help us see You in everything we face because this leads to gratitude and joy. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Ellie in Yenisita's Coat and Bonnet