As I write this I am sitting in the hospital with my wonderful, much-tougher-than-she-looks wife who is sleeping after some very serious surgery. In times like this the love we have is more visible, more focused, and more palpable than almost any other time.
We know that our brothers and sisters at church are praying for her, us, her caregivers, and our whole family. When the valleys in life have come our way it is then that our love for God comes to the forefront and his love is felt more deeply than usual. Even when the outcome is not what we want, we know that God knows best and will “work all things together for good” (Rom. 8:28). We know that
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.
–Psalm 46:1
We are comforted knowing people are going to God in prayer for us and comforted by the knowledge that God loves us and knows what we need and what is best for us. At times like this I often wonder what people do who are not Christians and do not have a church family. I know that many people manage through these situations but it has to be very different and much more scary and lonely.
Are you part of God’s family? If not, today is a great day to join that family through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, putting on Christ and becoming a part of God’s family. Have you already done this but left your family and turned your back on God? Then today is a great day to come back to the family. Decide today!
With love, and for the elders,
Gary Woodall