A verse of Scripture that I particularly like is from Habakkuk 3:17-19

"Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength."

Talk about a dreadful set of circumstances!  In those days, such disasters would have spelled no hope, and yet Habakkuk is determined to be joyful, knowing that the Lord, who is Sovereign, is his strength. Don't you think that is wonderful? 

None of us are good at rejoicing in the bad.  Most of us have a problem with the sovereignity of God when bad things happen.  Mostly we choose to whine and grumble! 

I remember hearing a sermon telling me that if I was a Christian I should be happy all the time.  I don't agree!  But I should be joyful in God.  When the crops fail (we lose our income), or someone we love gets ill or dies we aren't going to be 'happy'.  Well, I'm not!  But in these things we can experience God's love and grace in our lives in a way that is impossible in the good times.

In reflecting on how Christians might deal with grief, I've realised that over the years Godly people have blessed me with outstanding examples of how to be joyful in the midst of the worst.  People who've let God's love shine through them powerfully.  Bad things happen to everyone.  We have hope and so can radiate God's peace in the midst of trials.  I pray I may be able to to always show God's love and grace and manage to rejoice in the Lord too.   

Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.

Jean Van Dyke

'There, but for the grace of God, go I.'

Recently we, as an extended family, have been very saddened to hear of an old friend going to court and subsequently to jail.  It all started as a minor misjudgement, but once that line had been stepped over it got easier to make the same mistake, eventually ending up in fraud on quite a scale.  There is a good part of the story because one day, about a year ago, the Lord spoke to him very clearly and challenged him about what he was doing, and how he was living a lie.  He repented and then got down to the task of preparing all the necessary paperwork to take to the police.  This he did and wrote letters to everyone he had harmed explaining that he realised he was wrong and he was going to the police to confess.  I think the police were probably rather suprised!

A few weeks ago it came to court and he was sent to prison for 6 years.  In the meantime he had done his best to recover the money, and I understand that once that bit has been to court (don't understand the system) almost, if not all the money lost will be returned to the rightful owners. 

We were shocked at first, because he is someone we all would have trusted, but there my title comes in.  There, but for the grace of God, go I.  Okay, I couldn't commit that particular crime (would never have the opportunity), but it is so easy to do little things that are wrong and to make mistakes, that could have serious consequences.  How we need to be vigilant that we stand right before God, asking Him to keep us from evil, and be being ever thankful that by His grace we are where we are.

Our friend still has to pay the consequences for his crime, but he stands as innocent before the Lord.  He is a sinner saved by grace, just as I am.