March 4: Insight Post by Rusty Coram
Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram
The phrase “fair weather friend” has been around for a couple of hundred years, describing someone who is close when things are good and splits when tough times come. I am sure God is very familiar with this. It is easy to praise and honor God when things are going well. When we “feel” blessed, gratitude can come easily. But when life gets hard, circumstances are painful, and the future appears rough, our joy can quickly turn to whining and complaining. For those of us who know Jesus, this mindset is one we need to reject.
Regardless of our immediate circumstances, God is still the Lord, and He is good. If life gets hard, it is happening because He has allowed it for deliberate reasons. Sometimes it is to discipline us for disobedience (what any good parent does!). Sometimes He allows pain and suffering to develop character, endurance, and patience in us. Other times, difficulty comes so God can use our example of trusting Him to show others His ability to carry and comfort His children.
When asked “How are you doing?”, I have heard people say (and I have said it too), “Ok, under the circumstances.” The right follow-up response to this is “What are you doing under there?!” Here’s why:
“1Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! 2Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:1-5 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org