Sometimes Things are Difficult
The past few weeks seem to have been really difficult for some reason. As many of you know, my grandfather (Dang Dang as we affectionately called him) passed away a little over a week ago. It wasn’t sudden, and he had a long and wonderful life, but it was still tough. We were very close to him, and I will write a post about how much he meant to me and to my family after the emotions die down a little. Things seem so different now. I know he is in a much better place, and I am glad that is the comfort that we have, but it is sad that we will not get to spend another Christmas or Thanksgiving with him that we will not get to hear his jokes anymore, and that one of the people in this world that loved me unconditionally is no longer here.
Moving on…This month is also the last time I will be at RiverTown Church in an official capacity. I have served there for the past 51/2 years, and I no longer will be there starting in January. In fact, this past Wednesday was my last Wednesday night with our youth. The same youth that I have spent every Wednesday night with for the past almost 6 years. This coming Sunday is also my last Sunday on staff at RiverTown. I mentioned in a previous post that this is bittersweet because it means that we are moving to the next stage of our life in Haiti, but right now it is just sad.
As I write this, I know that many of you have had to deal with much greater sorrows, sadness, and hurt than what I am describing. I know that many of you have gone through seasons of life that just seem like they would never end or get better. What I know from this time in my life (and others) is that sometimes things are just difficult. Sometimes Christmas time just doesn’t seem like Christmas time. Sometimes we have to just rely on the relationship that we have with our Savior and the people that He has placed in our life that bring us comfort and joy even in difficult times.
I was reading in Luke 19 last night as Jesus was coming into Jerusalem for the last time and everyone was cheering and praising Him as the Messiah. Something really cool happens when the Pharisees tell Jesus that He needs to get His disciples under control and get them to stop praising Him. Jesus says this, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Wow! Jesus is so worthy of praise that if we quit praising Him, it just means His creation will praise Him. He is so worthy of praise that we read throughout Revelation that the angels in Heaven are constantly praising Him. But we have such a special relationship with Him. We were created in His image, we were created for His glory, and we were created to praise Him. Sometimes things are difficult, they just are, but GOD always deserves our praise.
During this Christmas season, how awesome is it that we truly have something to be joyful about. We truly have something to be thankful for. We have a Savior who came here! No matter what else is going on this Christmas season, no matter what else is going on in our lives, we have a Savior and He is worthy!