Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”
Our Bible verse for today: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (CSB)
Our thought for today: “There are blessings to be found in the middle of bad situations – find them and share them.”
Romans 8:28 is one of the most comforting passages of New Testament scripture for those who are dealing with a crisis and facing an uncertain future. The verse does not say that all things are good, because of course, many things are not. What it does teach is that God can and does reach into the middle of bad situations and He brings good things out of them for those who love Him, for those who trust Him, and for those who turn to Him for help in such situations.
Good and blessings can come in many forms and in unexpected ways. And even though the actual trial might not immediately go away, and even if there may still be pain and suffering to be dealt with, God is there and He is working quietly behind the scenes to comfort and bless.
The other day an old friend shared a poem on Facebook that I believe speaks beautifully to this issue precisely as we all find ourselves having to cancel activities, avoid crowds, and stay home more. It’s not an explicitly Christian poem, although it clearly does reflect the truth of Romans 8:28. I want to share it with you this morning:
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.” – Kitty O’Meara
As bad as this COVID 19 pandemic is (and may still get), there are also good things that can come out of it. There will be blessings to be found – and shared. As was noted in yesterday’s devotional message, Jesus calls us, His followers, to be salt and light in a confused and panicked world. We are to be agents of peace and voices of reason who shine light into the darkness and who bring order into the confusion. We can help others see God at work in the middle of it all. There are blessings to be found in the middle of bad situations. I encourage you to find them and to share them.
Oak Hill Baptist Church