How are you doing? Really.
I’m so sick and tired of posts and articles and newscasts about you-know-what. I’m guessing you are too. But it is what life on this planet has become all about…for a while at least. And I really do want to know: how are you doing? I mean really? It’s overwhelming to think of all the needs out there, but my prayer for you today is that you have everything you need, that you know your loved ones are well and safe, and most of all, that you have God’s peace and hope in your hearts.
One of the things I’ve been doing, while we’re sheltered-in, is sorting through 50,000+ photos on my computer—something I’ve desperately needed to do to clean up my laptop’s memory. But it’s been a surprisingly comforting thing to do, and I’ve smiled so many times. And become so aware of the blessings God has given. Yes, this life will have trials. God has never made a secret of that. He’s even told us that trials and suffering are for our good—they build character and bring hope.
Another thing that I’ve had more time for is prayer. Even as I type these words, I’m praying for you who will read them. If there is something specific I can pray about for you, will you leave a message in the comments? And I will pray for you by name. If you’d rather not share the details, that’s okay. Just type, “Please pray for my need.” God knows…and cares. I know sometimes I tend to think of prayer as a small thing, a last resort with a well-it-can’t-hurt kind of attitude. But I know better! God has answered uncountable prayers throughout my life. And I would count it a privilege to pray for you.
. . . And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. . . . .8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
~Romans 5
