Thankful In All Circumstances

November 18, 2021 Thankful…..in All Circumstances Beth Keyser

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I once heard a Priest say, “If we can trust a puzzle company to ensure every puzzle piece is included in the box, then why can’t we trust God that every piece of our life is there for a reason?”

Today, Lord, let us understand that you are with us and that each piece of our life, each person we encounter, and each moment of joy is part of completing the greatest puzzle we call life. During this life, you are with us when the puzzle feels unsolvable due to times of great sadness or loss. You provide the opportunity to grow in faith and strength to endure through the most difficult times.

I am thankful the Lord allowed me additional time in 2021 to be with my cousin, Candy. I was able to witness her extraordinary resilience as she succumbed to a cancer that she bravely fought for many years. Knowing that Candy would be with you, Lord, allowed me to rejoice, and reaffirmed what Jacob meant what he said in Genesis 28:16, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it”. At first, I felt sadness from losing a piece of my puzzle. But through my faith in you, I gained a pair of wings and know that Candy is by your side. You trusted me, Lord, to witness Candy’s difficulty and know that even her loss of life was an opportunity to grow in my faith.

The Lord appoints a season and a time, so only in reflection do I see this loss of my dear cousin as a gift. The additional time with Candy came during a season of hardship due to a pandemic when so much was unknown. However, it allowed me time to grow closer to her amazing husband and precious children. It also allowed me time and proximity to provide support to my mother, also Candy’s aunt, as she cared for my father with his advancing dementia. I give thanks to the Lord for providing the strength to my family to endure through these difficult times.

Dear Lord, So many have experienced the loss of loved ones this year. May you comfort them in a way only you can. May we find joy in the memories we have with those that have been so dearly loved and lost. Please help us gives thanks for every detail of our lives, big and small. We know that every trial and every happy moment is part of your design, and brings you glory and praise. We thank you for you are good, and your love endures forever. Amen.