“I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (Isaiah 64:7).
As Thanksgiving Day drew to a close, I meditated on the goodness of God. I have experienced severe losses; I have known failure and have felt the shock of betrayal. In my grief and my horror, I questioned and challenged God. His message in the Bible rebukes me. A message of purposed renewal and determined love dominates that book. God reminds me in the person of Jesus that although the way may not be easy, I still can choose to walk it with faithfulness and integrity.
I hope you chose today to thank God and to thank others who have brought grace and love into your life. Expressing thankfulness ingrains within us awareness of how much we have, even when it seems we have lost all.
Thank you for reading. Give thanks to the God who remains true.
God who remains true, I marvel at your capacity to transform heartache into insight. When our dreams shatter like glass, when rocks of reality collide with them, you reveal a path to reassemble and to build anew a vision for going forward. Often we think that we move toward our own goals, but the destination is the one you have prepared. You do not force. Sometimes people manipulate and force others to act in ways harmful to themselves. You have shown the way, the truth, and the life. You grant us the freedom to choose that way. You grant us the choice to deny your way, and to forge our own. Our denial will damage us, but you remain faithful – you inhabit integrity – and are ready to rescue when we realize our plight. You remain true when we choose what is false; you inhabit beauty when we choose ugliness. Thank you for your love and your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Often we think that we move toward our own goals, but the destination is the one you have prepared.”
Amen!