I recently heard the expression, “Life happens for us, not to us.” This is a mindset that helps us see the positive in life’s events.

Some people have an easier time believing this idea than others, but it is consistent with the well known Bible passage Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

And Romans 5:3-5 tells us that even our difficulties are for our good, saying, “we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”

So life does happen for us. In all life’s events, we should look for what God is doing for us, to make us better.

Dear Lord, you are always working on us if we let you. Help us find the lesson you have for us in all of our circumstances. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

This is the essence of Faith, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

Whether it is our fear of the future, deciding whether to tithe, or facing a crisis, as Christians, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We live by faith, not by sight.”

Dear Lord, It is frightening to let go of those earthly things in which we put our trust, our intelligence, our money, technology. Help us and show us that we can put our trust in you, and find the comfort it brings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What if you had a magic device that would take the fear out of everything in your life. Virus, big a job interview, big presentation, children leave for an overnight school trip, your teenager goes out with friends, and you start getting scared…press the button on the magic device, and peace and confidence replace the fear.

207 times in the Bible, God says “fear not”. Why? Because God is with us. Isaiah 41:10 says. “Fear not I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you , I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

So in some ways we have the most powerful “magic device” there is, God, with us, all the time. So when fear comes, stop and ask for God to help you and give you strength and peace in your time of fear.

Dear Lord help us remember that you are always there to help us. Help us live our lives demonstrating the faith and confidence in You. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

One of the reasons Jesus became famous during his ministry was because he performed many miracles. People came from all around to be healed, or to help others be healed. In most of the cases where Jesus healed people, he either asked them if they believed, or after healing them, he told them it was their faith that healed them.

Mark 6 includes the account of Jesus returning to his hometown, and finds that the people there are skeptical about his ability to perform miracles. verses 5 & 6 say, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” I find it interesting that the verse says Jesus “could not” do miracles because of their lack of faith.

I believe from this that we all play a part in whether God performs miracles in our lives. If we don’t believe God can do it, he possibly won’t, and if we believe, Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, “but with God all things are possible.”

Dear Lord, we want to believe that you can do anything, but often we just cannot bring ourselves to truly believe these things that seem impossible to us. Help us remember that we don’t need to figure it all out; we only need to believe in your power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I recently heard a profound expression from one of the wisest of my friends, Pastor Scott Bruzek, St. John Lutheran, Wheaton, IL, who said, “Love is where mercy meets misery.”

Isn’t this what Jesus is, the mercy of God that comes to us in our misery. He also is the mercy of God carrying the struggles of our lives.

This idea brought to mind the image of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:29, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Though not so Biblical, I could hear the song written by one of modern day’s musical geniuses, Brian Wilson, “Love and Mercy” express this sentiment. Written after years of his challenges of mental illness and and struggle. He wrote, “Love and mercy is what you need tonight, Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.”

God’s gift, Jesus Christ is that Love and Mercy.

Dear Lord, Your love and mercy is the gift we need to accept to overcome any misery of our lives. Help us find our way to accepting it and being the path to it for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.