When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun
Amazing Grace, by John Newton verse 6
“8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:8-10)”
We are coming to the end of the Easter Season when we look at how we can be assured of the truth of the resurrection. How do we know the Lord is risen! Is it only because we get what we want through prayer?
John Newton testifies to his changed life in the hymn “Amazing Grace.” He changed from being a hardened slave ship captain to being an outspoken advocate against slavery. His life radically changed under his new found faith in Jesus when his life was saved in a storm at sea. The apostle Paul, though, sings praises to God’s grace even as his life did not change. He prayed three times to be healed and was not. Many think it was some eye problem. God did not heal Paul but Paul found by God’s grace the strength to endure his affliction.
Often we gauge the reality of God and our worth to him by how life is going. During tough times we may doubt our worth and after a good day, hopefully we remember to praise. Paul challenges us to realize that when we are weak then God is working in ways we may not realize. As I walk this journey of accompanying my husband as he declines, I have to remember that on the hard days when he, and hence I cry, that God is close and walking with him. I do not know what challenge you face today but whether we see God’s hand rescue like John Newton did or whether we see God strengthen us when we are weak like Paul, we know God is working. We will have eternity to praise for his presence during the ups and downs. We have a future and a hope!
On the Way to Wonder 