The sunshine of the past few days, a break from leading children’s church for a week, and the removal of my husband’s old Chevelle from our yard all worked together to give me a relaxed state of mind. I’ve experienced some stress over the past few weeks related to work issues, car problems and financial challenges. It feels good this morning to say, “I made it through the storm.”
God is so good to me.
He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and His word is good. We don’t ever have to question whether or not He loves us. Sometimes we rebel against His authority, however. We want the things that we want when we want them, whether they are healthy for us or not. I’m not immune to having some unhealthy habits and making choices that are not the best for me. We all have challenges in life and sins we struggle with, but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us.
His love is unconditional. His love is true, faithful and honest. He makes the storms of life go away or helps us walk through them. I cannot comprehend how God can be in all and over all and know all, but I can believe it’s true because the Bible tells us so.
How can I question the God who raised Jesus from the dead?
Jesus’ disciple Thomas questioned Jesus’ resurrection. This passage is from John 20:24-29:
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We are blessed because we haven’t seen Jesus but believe in His birth, crucifixion and resurrection anyway.
I feel that blessing this morning as I start a new week.
I received notice from my boss of a cancellation for tomorrow. That means less money in my paycheck for next time.
But I guess God knows what I need. I’ve said since I started this job that God controls my schedule. I can’t control whether people get ill or cancel for other reasons, or when I might get sick and need a day (or days when I’ve had Covid) off.
Next week’s children’s lesson is the story about God providing manna for the Israelites when they were wandering through the desert.
The Bible verse to go with the lesson is:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
As I write the lesson point for this week’s lesson it will also be a reminder to me of how God provides what I need before I can ask.
Carol Underhill 