A thought from Martin Luther

Looking back over your life have you considered how the hand of God has been with you? How often have you done and and suffered many things, without any exertion or desire of your own, or without any thought before it happened. During such events, have you wondered: “Where on earth have all these things come from, surely not from my mind? My thoughts were elsewhere?”

“A person’s heart devises their way, but the Lord directs their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9). How often God was with us when we didn’t know it, and with what truth Peter has said, “He cares for us all.” (1 Peter 5:7) Therefore, considering this, our very life itself has been brought through so many evils and dangers by the ever present and most tender goodness of God, who, far above all that we purposed or perceived, carried us in his arms.

From the Psalms: “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your works; I muse on the work of your hands.” (Psalm143:5) “Surely I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11) Again, “I remembered your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself.” (Psalm 119:52) Such exhortations are intended to teach us that, if God was with us when we thought he wasn’t, or when it seemed that he wasn’t, we should not doubt that he is always
with us, even when he appears to be far from us. For he who has sustained us in so many of our necessities, without our aid, will not forsake us in our smaller need, even though he seems to be forsaking us. As He said in Isaiah, “For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you.” (Isaiah 54:7)

Pastor Darryl

Photo by Silvestri Matteo on Unsplash