Thankful for the "All Things"
For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) Several years before my dad died, I mentioned that Romans 8:28 had become something of a life motto for me. I was surprised when he replied that it was also his father’s favorite verse and that he often quoted it when things went wrong. When a piece of machinery broke or something else unfavorable happened, granddad would say to his sons, “Well, boys, this is just one of the “all things.” It seems to come pretty naturally for us to thank God for the positive things that come along in life, but how often do we express our gratitude for the negative ones, especially when they assault us unexpectedly, and it seems there is no rhyme or reason for their happening? Now, before I come off sounding like a Pollyanna who breezes through life with a “praise God anyway”, let me explain myself. It isn’t that we want those ...