Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! The subject of yesterday’s sermon was hard for many of us. We looked at 2 Corinthians 12 and thought about the struggles of life that do not seem to go away. We pray about these things and, instead of finding relief, we become frustrated because the prayer seems unanswered. There are times when we beg God to do something that we think is necessary for our survival and flourishing and it seems like God is doing nothing. Paul wrote about one of those times in his life in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul was suffering from something unnamed, a “thorn in the flesh.” Paul prayed his heart out for it to be removed, but God told Paul the thorn would not be removed. We, too, pray our hearts out for some pain or struggle to be removed. But after a time, it becomes clear that God is not going to change that circumstance. Why? It is not because God does not love us and wants us to suffer. It is because God has something greater that will come about from us living with that thorn. There is something good that will ultimately happen for us, for His people, and for those we love that would not come about if he delivered us from that thorn. We might not understand at the time what God is doing. We might not even understand it in our lifetimes. But we do understand that if God does not give us specifically what we ask, He will give us something far better in the long run. One of the greatest things God can give us right now is not some answer to prayer for a miracle or relief from our suffering. One of God’s greatest gifts is knowing God’s very presence and power in our lives that comes to us in our struggles and weaknesses. So, in faith we offer praise to God. We, with Matt Redmond, proclaim:
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
During the weeks between Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day, we will be passing out baby bottles for us to collect offerings for the CareNet Pregnancy Center of Dane County and the wonderful work they do in saving lives and helping women and families. Take a bottle and fill it with an offering to be brought back on Fathers’ Day.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church