Alliteration Station.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy shared four things that God does on behalf of His people:

• We experience God's providence.
• We experience God's provision.
• We experience God's protection.
• We experience God's promises.

As I have been reflecting on these glorious gifts we receive from the hand of God, the word that has come to mind is bliss. We experience profound spiritual joy as beneficiaries of the grace of God.

Bliss in the midst of crisis. Some years ago, Don Moen wrote and produced the song "God Will Make A Way". It was a song birthed out of deep pain and sorrow. In modern Christianity we tend to associate the goodness of God with the absence of troubles... but He is good even in our troubles, even in our crises, even in our losses. One of the distinguishing features of the mature Christian is that he is able to rejoice before seeing the manifestation of God's promises, protection, provision, and providence.

In order to experience providence, there must be desire.
In order to experience provision, there must be lack.
In order to experience protection, there must be danger.
In order to experience promise, there must be loss.

During the sermon Pastor Joy noted that, in desperate situations, our inclination is to first go to whom we know best. I pray that, for all of us, God remains our first, best, and sole resource.

May we experience Him today, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.