ODB: being glad
August 3, 2009
READ: Psalm 30
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. —Psalm 118:24
One of my favorite childhood books was Pollyanna, the story of the optimistic young girl who always found something to be glad about—even when bad things happened.
I was reminded recently of that literary friend when my real-life friend fell and broke her arm while riding her bicycle. Marianne told me how thankful she was that she was able to ride all the way back home and how grateful she was that she wouldn’t need to have surgery. It was her left arm (she’s right-handed), she said, so she would still be able to work. And wasn’t it great, she marveled, that she has good bones, so her arm should heal fine! And wasn’t it wonderful that it hadn’t been any worse!
Whew! Marianne is an example of someone who has learned to rejoice in spite of trouble. She has a confidence that God will care for her—no matter what.
Suffering eventually touches us all. And in times of difficulty, thankfulness is usually not our first response. But I think God looks at us with pleasure when we find reasons to be thankful (1 Thess. 5:16-18). As we realistically look for the good despite our bad circumstances, we can be grateful that God is holding us close. It is when we trust in His goodness that we find gladness. — Cindy Hess Kasper
Thankfulness finds something good in every circumstance.
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Loading ...ODJ: “stay together”
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (v.2).
READ: Galatians 6:1-10
Gladiator tells the story of Maximus, a once- celebrated general of the northern Roman armies who was betrayed and forced into slavery. The epic film captures his rise through the gladiator ranks, eventually to avenge injustices committed against him and his family. Moments before Maximus’s first battle against a powerful, unseen foe in a Roman coliseum, he tells his fellow gladiators, “Whatever comes out of these gates, we’ve got a better chance of survival if we work together. You understand? If we stay together—we survive!” To the amazement of the crowd, the overmatched gladiators band together and pull off an unlikely victory.
There’s a critical lesson to learn from the tale of Maximus—we are not meant to live life alone. This truth is seen in the lives of two well-known Bible characters.
David was a man who surrounded himself with other people. In his early years he was “one in spirit” with his close friend Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1 NIV). As king, David surrounded himself with a trio of men who defended his throne and willingly risked their lives for him in battle (2 Samuel 23:8-39).
Samson, on the other hand, lived life as a loner. Not once does the Bible mention that he had any close friends. He didn’t have anyone close who could help him see the serious mistakes he was making with the dangerous Delilah (Judges 16). And unlike David, who lived long and finished strong, Samson was taken out early.
Life in a broken world is hard—downright brutal at times. We need some close friends who know us well. People who will pray for us, pick us up when we’re down, and warn us when we’re going astray (Galatians 6:2).
The difference between surviving and not surviving is often the words, “if we stay together.” —Jeff Olson
In what ways are you going it alone in life? How could a “band of brothers” (or sisters) help you thrive in Christ?
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