“…but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” - Romans 5:3-5
One thing is for certain, no matter how much we may be affected by our current health crisis, individually, we are all suffering together. This isn’t a time to compare one’s suffering to another, or how one’s way of life is more displaced than another. We are all experiencing this together. We are, together, wading through the waters of uncertainty, unknown, and none of us know how long this could last.
What I do know, is that Paul’s word to those Christians in the heart of all the issues in Rome, where they also had a shared suffering, offer us hope. Realizing that we are all in this together, gives us an opportunity to urge one another on to have the character and hope that does not disappoint. God is still pouring into us the joy of the Holy Spirit, and his mercies are new every morning. I’m encouraged by your encouraging words, a few are shared below. Please keep them coming, and I will continue to share them each day, as we press on to the joy of a time when we will all be together, in worship, again.
Until then, we will praise God, where we are. With a Spirit of awe and wonder, God is still doing amazing things, and binding us together in love. (Colossians 3:14).
Grace & Peace, Pastor Sam
“Encouragement is an essential way of extending grace to each other. Be positive, be caring, be understanding even when these actions are probably not your first choice.” – Gary Larson
“God is not surprised by this event at all, and we as Christians know he can use all things for His glory. I’m almost excited to see families come back together, to see schedules lessened and for people to embrace some margin in their lives. We are too busy and have gotten too busy for God. He can use this as a tool for good. Prayers that everyone stays in and stays well.”
– Liz Mann
A quote from Upper Room this week: “Sometimes life is hard but God does not abandon us."
Also: “God sees us and is thinking of ways to help us” – Donna Judd