Encouragement for Life

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The clock fell to the floor with a crash when the hook pulled from the wall. This clock had hung in our home for nearly 30 years!  I had given it to Wayne on his 50th birthday. He always wanted a grandfather clock to chime at regular intervals. I could not afford that, but I had found a clock that would chime announcing every hour. 

When I went to survey the damage and decide if it was fixable, it was a sad sight. Pieces of wood lay separated from the clock housing. . The  battery had rolled from its assigned space. The piece of glass that used to sit in front of the swinging pendulum was now lying separate from everything else, unbroken! That in itself was quite amazing. I began picking up the pieces and laid them carefully in a box. I reinserted the battery to see if the clock would run. It did. It has faithfully chimed every hour as it lays in its box awaiting repairs.  My brother thinks he can put it back together. 

I know the clock continues to work because the time-keeping mechanism was not damaged in the fall.  But I cannot help but think about my attitude when I am wounded or threatened in some way.  Life is made up of good times and bad times. When I experience the death of a loved one,  rejection of a friend or family member, or economic losses, or whatever the situation may be, what is my attitude?  Do I blame God and turn away from Him?  Do I run to God seeking wisdom and comfort? 

We cannot control most of the troubles that come our way, but we can control how we react to it. We have a choice. We can allow God to use this experience to make us better and use it for His glory. Or we can choose to blame God and turn away from Him. The better choice, of course, is to allow God to work in our lives through both good and bad times. He is the Source of strength and peace. Looking for help apart from God will be temporary at best. God has promised to never leave us. He loves us and desires fellowship with us forever through all our life experiences.  Will we remain faithful to the Lord who is forever faithful to us?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).