Good Grief.

As we continue reflecting on strategies for resisting the culture of ingratitude, let us remember a key point from Pastor Sam's sermon this past Sunday: Our challenges are not a sign of God's incompetence. God's sovereignty is not diminished by any crisis we may encounter.

The Lutheran hymn "What God Ordains Is Always Good" is a hymn I have often contemplated, as it reminds me to continue being thankful and faithful to God regardless of what challenges may be occurring in my personal life. As I have been thinking about our pastor's sermon this week, this hymn has kept coming to my mind. I share it with you today, and pray that it will encourage you to continue loving and trusting and thanking God-- even in the face of crisis.

What God ordains is always good: His will is just and holy.
As He directs my life for me, I follow meek and lowly.
My God indeed in every need knows well how He will shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.

What God ordains is always good: He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His own right way, and never will He leave me.
I take content what He has sent; His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.

What God ordains is always good: His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup that my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morning new I trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

What God ordains is always good: He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm though many storms may gather.
Now I may know both joy and woe; someday I shall see clearly
That He has loved me dearly.

What God ordains is always good: Though I the cup am drinking
Which savors now of bitterness, I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God gives relief, my heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.

What God ordains is always good: This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, for with His arm He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me. (Rev. Samuel Rodigast, 1675)