Dear Church Family,

Blessings. Have you ever had a day when it was hard to count your blessings? We know we have them, but it seems like the human condition to ignore what’s going well when you’re hurting in other areas.

  • Your health is great, but you’re hurting financially.
  • You’re great financially, but your health is poor.
  • Your spouse is not a bad person, but he or she does this one thing that irritates you immensely.

I think it is human to focus on what hurts and lose focus on what is good. After all, who can walk around on an infected foot all day without the situation getting worse? You want to fix the problem! Sometimes, though, the problem can’t be fixed. What do you do then? Read Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Some things can’t be fixed. Some things we have to endure, and we can only do so by leaning on God’s grace. I have a long way to go to get to where Paul was when he said he was content with his weaknesses. I’m not as content when I think things should be better. I know God’s power is more evident when I am powerless, but I struggle to boast in those moments. So, when those moments come, I need to remember what Paul, when you boil it all down, is saying: “It’s okay to not be okay.”

When I can remember this, then I am more content in my situation. I am more likely to trust in God’s power than my own. I am more likely to say, “This is good, as now I’m about to experience the power of God in a new way.” It won’t be easy. It won’t be fun. But it WILL BE okay!!

I love you all,

Pastor Daniel