My neighbor Elaine had her air conditioning quit working, and they couldn’t get the parts to repair it for weeks. This would be challenging for anyone, but especially for Elaine, who's in her 80s, recently widowed, and living in Florida where the temperatures are usually higher than her age.
But Elaine is a Christian, and she considers her neighborhood one of her ministries, welcoming new people and helping those in need. In the last month, she's delivered coffee cake to two new families in the neighborhood, cleaned a neighbor's garage door, and planted flowers in her next-door neighbor's garden.
I loved hearing her explain. “I asked God why He couldn’t have had the air conditioning go out during a cooler time of the year,” she said. “Then I asked God’s forgiveness. I know He has purposes for me.”
Elaine has dealt with some challenging situations in her life, but she sees her circumstances as God’s way of teaching her something new and strengthening her faith.
As Oswald Chambers explained, “Salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth.… God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings.”
This view is affirmed in Romans 8:28.*
My friend Elaine inspires me to face my difficulties, confident that God has something to teach me and confident that He loves me. I pray her story helps you do the same.
💙💙💙
For more on this subject, see:
* Romans 8:28:
“We know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned
about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for
those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and
purpose.” AMP
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