God has shown himself to me in so many different ways. Our family has seen one miracle after another. I'm reminded of something that Mark Batterson, Pastor of National Community Church, said. This is my paraphrase. He said, "There are a lot of people who are chasing after miracles, but not too many who want to be in a place where they really need one." I can now say that I've been there and I've see many!
While there have been many sources of strength for me during this time, there is something that has sustained my faith beyond anything else. It's a core belief that I've had for a long time and it has helped me through the toughest of times. Here it is! Are you ready? I believe with all my heart that God is good. That's it! Sounds pretty simple, huh? Simple, perhaps, but powerful. Let's face it, I don't know about you, but sometimes it's hard to make sense of the trials of life. It's even more difficult to process the terrible atrocities happening around our world.
It's important to remember that God is not the author of evil (Luke 11:11-13; James 1:13-17). He is good to His very core. God even takes the works of Satan and turns them around for good things for us and ultimately for His glory. It never ceases to amaze me!
Here are some of the ways I have seen His goodness:
1. Encouraging words from friends and family. I could go on and on about this. Most notable are several guys who have called me just about every week to chat and pray. Their friendship has been so valuable. I must say, you don't know who your true friends are until you go through a tough time in your life.
2. A strong marriage. I can't emphasize this one enough. All of us who are married have a choice to make during hard times. We can let them bring us closer together or divide us. I'm thankful to say that Cheryl and I are closer than ever to each other!
3. Opportunities to serve. Serving others has a way of helping us get our focus off of our problems. Cheryl and I have enjoyed worshiping and serving at Southbrook Church. It's been so refreshing to see God saving souls and transforming lives there. In a sense, it's been a source of healing for both of us.
4. Provision. I could write for days on this one! In 9 months (7 of which I was unemployed) we have never missed a payment on anything nor have we incurred any debt. I say this to give glory to God! We have had checks show up at just the right time, food, scholarships...the list goes on and on. I stand amazed at God's faithfulness! Recently, I started a job at Carolinas Healthcare System and I'm also helping out Dwayne and Stephanie MacDonald at Grace and Truth Church. While things are still very tight, I know that He will continue to provide.
There is much more I could write, but for the sake of brevity I will stop. Don't ever forget that, no matter what you face, God is good and he's working out a good plan for your life. He's done it time and time again for me, and He will do it for you too!
