Today's blog comes courtesy of, my favorite, Father Tim (from the Mitford books).
I just finished listening to book seven in the Mitford series, "In This Mountain" and Father Tim preaches a great sermon in the book about giving "thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" from 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Father Tim said that Christians are often quick to be thankful in joyful times and give thanks for blessings, but how many times are Christians thankful for trials or challenges?
Father Tim said that trials and challenges in our lives, no matter how difficult, are at the very least permitted by God, and He will ALWAYS bring good in the midst of the challenges.
Father Tim encouraged his (fictional) congregation to not just tolerate challenges, but to sincerely give thanks in them and for them. Father Tim talked about how much God, our Father loves us, and how He brings good out of EVERYTHING -- not just overt blessings. Father Tim asked if you could imagine a child saying to their parent, "I really don't like this hard thing... but you, Mom, are allowing it to happen, and I trust you, so I am thankful for this hard thing in my life."
What a trusting child that would be to say that... I want to be that child.
This is such a word in season for me because I am feeling the trials of being a working mother. I feel that I am struggling as a teacher and as a mother, I am exhausted, and I only see my baby girl awake for less than two hours a day. This is a huge challenge for me, and it is only the second week of work (and the first week of school).
I am trying to remind myself to be thankful for this challenge. And I seriously have to REMIND myself. My initial reaction, most of the time, is to complain about things that are challenging... it takes consciously reminding myself time after time to try to harvest gratitude for this situation that, my human side, wants to go away.
Nevertheless...
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I just finished listening to book seven in the Mitford series, "In This Mountain" and Father Tim preaches a great sermon in the book about giving "thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" from 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Father Tim said that Christians are often quick to be thankful in joyful times and give thanks for blessings, but how many times are Christians thankful for trials or challenges?
Father Tim said that trials and challenges in our lives, no matter how difficult, are at the very least permitted by God, and He will ALWAYS bring good in the midst of the challenges.
Father Tim encouraged his (fictional) congregation to not just tolerate challenges, but to sincerely give thanks in them and for them. Father Tim talked about how much God, our Father loves us, and how He brings good out of EVERYTHING -- not just overt blessings. Father Tim asked if you could imagine a child saying to their parent, "I really don't like this hard thing... but you, Mom, are allowing it to happen, and I trust you, so I am thankful for this hard thing in my life."
What a trusting child that would be to say that... I want to be that child.
This is such a word in season for me because I am feeling the trials of being a working mother. I feel that I am struggling as a teacher and as a mother, I am exhausted, and I only see my baby girl awake for less than two hours a day. This is a huge challenge for me, and it is only the second week of work (and the first week of school).
I am trying to remind myself to be thankful for this challenge. And I seriously have to REMIND myself. My initial reaction, most of the time, is to complain about things that are challenging... it takes consciously reminding myself time after time to try to harvest gratitude for this situation that, my human side, wants to go away.
Nevertheless...
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
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