Tuesday, September 14, 2026

I remember visiting a young lady in a nursing home. She was there because of an automobile accident and would spend the rest of her life there. The first time I asked her, “How are you doing?” She said, “I’m doing fine. I’m a Christian.” I had to admire her faith and told her that she was an inspiration to me. She was an example of the truth found in James 1:12, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (NLT)

Sometime when we go through trials, tribulations, or setbacks we might ask, “Why me?” Why can’t I be as happy or healthy or financially secure as other people? Why couldn’t I have come from a nurturing, functional family? Why does life have to be so hard for me? These are understandable questions, but they are shortsighted. Even though it might seem like a long time, we’re only here a mere instant, a blink of the eye, compared to the big picture of eternity. What we might endure here is temporary.

Paul had an affliction that he asked the Lord to remove. The Lord replied in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (NLT) Our best response is to patiently endure what God allows in this life because these are only temporary challenges and struggles and because we are Christians, we will be rewarded for eternity if we keep the faith.

In Christ,
Reverend David Edgar