There is within each of us an instinctive desire to make sense out of life. We want to understand the reason behind each thing that happens in our lives. We often are frustrated when events occur that don't neatly fit into the perspective we have on how life should work. Such events sometimes test our faith.
When something tragic happens, the question is often raised as to how a loving God can allow it. People see pain, suffering, injustices, warfare, accidents, devastating illnesses, death -- and wonder why God seems to ignore it all. Some wonder if He really cares about mankind or if He really even exists. Even many devoted Christians struggle to understand why when their lives are turned upside down by happenings beyond their control.
Of course we do understand that the world is still under the curse of sin and death. Adam's willful disobedience allowed Satan to gain control of this present world. Chaos is one of the results. It is one of Satan's greatest weapons. Order will not be restored until Jesus Christ returns to set things right.
When I became a Christian, I relinquished control of my life. I consecrated it to God through Jesus Christ. In reality I never actually had control of my life -- Satan did. I transferred control from him to a different spiritual being. Yahweh, the Father of Jesus, became my Father and my God. Becoming a Christian did not mean that I would escape all the disasters that befall others. Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” I like the second part of the verse much better than the first part. The context of the verse makes it clear what I must be like to be delivered. I must have a “broken heart” and a “contrite spirit.”
I need to learn how to yield my life totally to God's spirit. I need to die (John 12:24) in order to really live. My physical life and its comforts need to become less important than my spiritual life and its growth and development. Total surrender and relinquishment is the cost of growing up spiritually.
The problem is that I want to understand how all this works in my life. My job as a Christian, however, is not to understand everything that God is doing in my life, but simply to surrender everything to Him and trust Him. I must believe on a very practical level that He knows what He is doing.
Nancy Missler recently wrote, “When all is said and done, I truly believe we will not only be judged by what we did for Him, but by how much we surrendered to Him, how much we loved Him and how much our hearts and lives were totally yielded to Him.” When something happens in my life that I don't understand, even if it pushes me to the end of myself (death of self), especially then do I need to remember that it is not my job as a Christian to understand. It is my job to yield and trust God. He allowed it into my life and that's all I need to know. I do not need to understand why.

The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.
There is something exciting about a New Year. For some reason, there is the sense that things of the past have come to some sort of end or conclusion, even if, in reality, they are continuing. There is the sense that New Year brings opportunity to "turn over a new leaf," or "turn a new page of life," or "take new path," or "set new goals," or some other expression of altering the present course of one's life. Many people approach the beginning of a New Year with eager anticipation. They're ready to get going, to enjoy new things and people, and to make something happen! And all of that is good.
But, when all is said and done, our talk about the New Year is more a matter of perception than reality. January 1st is really just the day after December 31st. This time around, it happens that it will be a Saturday following a Friday. Looking at it from that perspective sort of takes the excitement out of all the build-up doesn't it?
But, is it as negative or unimportant as it sounds? I imagine it might be, depending on the person speaking, but what if we were looking at things with the perspective of the passage above in Lamentations? There is something simple, but profound, stated there about God, and it applies specifically to us. As for God's loving-kindnesses (also translated: compassions, mercies, or steadfast love), they never cease. They do not wear out, get old, break down, and become faulty or out-of-date. They do not weaken and become ineffective or obsolete. Now, think about this for a second. The only reason we need something "new" is because that which is "old" no longer suits us, or does the job. But, this isn't a problem with God's mercies.
They are new each and every morning! You do not have to wait for a New Year. They aren't refreshed because they have become ancient or useless. God's loving-kindness is fresh the moment your eyelids greet the dawn. Whatever it is that burdens your heart at the beginning of the day, there is something from God to help you bear it. Whatever joys thrill your heart, there is something from God to make it even better. Whatever blessing you need (key word here is need not "want"), there are God's compassions ready to rain down upon your head. I pray to have this kind of perspective every day.
I like it when a New Year rolls around. I make my lists of changes, goals and projects. But, I'm really counting on the fact that with God it's just another day; one in which his mercies are brand new, just like they were yesterday and the day before. That's not just wishful thinking, that's the confidence of a faith that knows that divine resources are new with each and every day. With that in mind, I think I can make it. I'm sure that God will heap a lot of new mercies on you tomorrow morning and won't even wait until New Year's Day!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jonathan was David's friend, and he was also the son of King Saul. As the first-born son of Saul, it would also seem he was the heir apparent to the throne. But no, the Lord, through Samuel, had chosen another.
I vividly remember as a youngster thinking this was grossly unfair. I wanted some reason for Jonathan's dismissal, and I could find none. Read the account: this is a good guy. Why was he aced out?
Thankfully, I've grown up some since then, and I now just accept that the Lord has his reasons, and I trust Him. I believe that was Jonathan's attitude all along, and he has become a shining light in my life in how to trust the Lord.
In 1 Samuel 20:15, David vows to "never cut off kindness from Jonathan's family." Years later, after Saul and Jonathan have both died, David remembers that promise. David is now the king, and he asks his court, "Is there anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Samuel 9:1)
No one knew of any descendants, but someone knew of a man named Ziba that might know. So Ziba was called before the king. David inquires, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?"
Ziba replies, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet."
David says, "Where is he?"
Ziba says, "Lo-debar." (2 Samuel 9:2-4)
Lo-debar in Hebrew literally means "no pasture." In other words, the desert. The son of Jonathan was hidden away in the desert, because it was the custom of the time to exterminate anyone of a previous dynasty.
Mephibosheth was five years old when his nurse, who feared for his life, hurriedly fled with him. He fell, and became lame. For years, he was hidden away in the desert, permanently disabled. We don't know how old Mephibosheth was when the king's emissary came to his door, but he had a family and his own son named Mica.
Imagine the fear the son of Jonathan must have endured as he journeyed to Jerusalem. When presented to the king, Mephibosheth prostrated himself. David said, "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly." (2 Samuel 9:7)
You'll notice the word "kindness" in the scriptures we used. The original Hebrew for this word can also be translated as "grace." It was grace David vowed for the house of Jonathan. It was grace that caused David to seek out Mephibosheth. It was grace that David gave to him in land and hospitality.
Mephibosheth had nothing, deserved nothing, could repay nothing, and lived in fear and hiding from the king. But the king sought him out and showed him grace; amazing grace. So it is with us. We live in a desert, in fear of death, but the king has sought us out and invited us to his table; not as servants, but as sons.
Look around at this table. Who do you see? Peter, Paul, John, Matthew, Mark; they're all here, and many, many more. We sit at this table by the grace of the King, and for no other reason. "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! 'Tis grace hath bro't me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home." Hallelujah! Amen!

At some time or other, we all have experiences and uncertainties, which cause us to worry. It is a natural response to problems that face us. This year brought our family a number of changes and with change comes concern for how those changes will be met. Bob retired last fall, Sara chose a college to attend and started this Fall and I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. I’ll get to the end right away. Bob has adapted well to his retirement and it was good to have him home when dealing with the medical concerns that faced us. Sara has made a successful transition to college and is happy there, which is a relief and joy for her parents also. My surgery was successful though the outcome afterwards was a surprise and led to new uncertainties.
Of the three changes, two were planned but my diagnosis with Thyroid Cancer came as quite a surprise. I was not worried when the doctor suggested an ultra sound of some thyroid nodules and followed-up with a fine needle biopsy, which revealed possible Papillary cancer. Real worry did not descend upon us until a week after our surgery when we got a phone call from the doctor that it was indeed cancerous, but instead of Papillary it was a rarer form called Medullary thyroid cancer. The pathology report raised concerns that there might still be cells in the neck/lymph nodes. Another, more invasive surgery was recommended by the hospital tumor board, my oncologist and my doctor. My surgeon was not so sure. Here worry settled in for good since we now had to make some decisions and had conflicting recommendations. The next 6 months of wrangling with the HMO to get a second opinion from a doctor that had real experience with this form of thyroid cancer provided many anxieties and concerns. In looking back, I am amazed how abundantly the Lord provided in these experiences for our concerns. In his overruling, I was able to get essentially 3 “second opinions” and the advice of many professionals at a Thyroid Cancer Conference this fall. There will be no further surgery for now, we are taking a wait and see approach, and will deal with what comes, when or if it does.
What has impressed me most about this year is how the Lord has manifested himself in our experiences, answering many of our concerns and worries in ways that we could recognize as His hand. It has been faith strengthening to have his reassurance of his care in our lives and hopefully a reminder in the future to help lessen future concerns and lean more fully on Him. It has made me look at my worries in a different way – realizing how much I could have saved myself if I trusted more and worried less. I’ve often thought of the scripture quoted above: “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” Matt. 6:27. Hopefully, these experiences have led us to a greater dependency on our Heavenly Father and trust in his work in our lives. Our prayer is that we might have more of the perfect peace spoken of in the hymn below:

I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils mine eyes,
And o’er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And every joy he sends me comes
A sweet and glad surprise

One step I see before me,
‘Tis all I need to see,
The light of heaven more brightly shines
When earth’s illusions flee;
And sweetly through the silence comes
His loving “Follow Me”

Where He may lead I’ll follow
My trust in Him repose
And every hour in perfect peace
I’ll sing, he knows, he knows;
And every hour in perfect peace I’ll sing
He knows, he knows.