Unexpected surprise, joyfully received?

posted in: Andy Blogs | 0

 

 

The other week I found myself humming a tune from 1981 (a sign of my old age? Though I have to say there was a lot of great music in the 80s!!)

The song was an old U2 track called ‘October’ and as I was out walking. It was windy and dull, some of the words seemed so appropriate to how the day seemed:

October
And the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear
What do I care

It has been a delightful surprise to have the return of sunshine and blue skies in the past few days. To be able to take photos like above, whilst away at a leadership conference. The trees were far from bare! Plus it has been really warm over the past couple of afternoons – I wished I had brought shorts with me to wear.

Unexpected weather, but joyfully received.

I wonder whether the U2 lyrics above could be a good summary of how we can feel about life in general sometimes?

That it can seem like everything has been’stripped bare’ by circumstances that we have been facing.

Perhaps it seems like that right now for you? I have certainly been there (may be even that will help someone else reading this)

Or may be as you look at the news, it can cause a kind of despair; like the trees have lost all their leaves? It can seem like all the sunshine has gone out of life.

If any of the above is how you feel right now, firstly don’t be lost in being on your own in this – who can you talk to?

May be not surprisingly, I am also going to point us back to God – the One whom is described in these words –

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.   (Psalm 145:8-9, New International Version)

Will we be real before the Lord? It may mean we need to express anger, frustration or disappointment. There may be things that we need to confess and be freed up from. Perhaps it seems impossible to connect with God right now -again who can you open up to and ask them to journey with you on this?

In God there is hope and I finish with some words declaring that,

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13 New International Version)

May we all know, amid whatever life throws our way, the joy and peace that is available as we trust the Lord. We can know this through His Holy Spirit at work in our lives – His Spirit given to all who have put their trust in Christ.

May we be open to change coming, even to an unexpected surprise, joyfully received.

Andy