Many of our beloved Christmas carols have interesting back stories, but “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is especially significant to us as widows.

Wadsworth was born 1807 in Portland, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825. His language skills in English, French, Spanish, and Italian led to overseas travels in Europe and professorships in the United States. He was only married to his first wife, Mary, for four years when she suddenly died in 1835 from a miscarriage. Saddened by her death, he left for Europe and established a home in Germany.

When he returned to the United States a year later, he accepted a professorship at Harvard. He was a prolific writer and gifted translator of European literature. During this time, some of his published poems, like “The Wreck of the Hesperus” and “The Village Blacksmith”, attained great popularity; others, like his poems reflecting his travels in Europe, lacked admiration. In 1843, he married Fannie Elizabeth Appleton. Together they had six children, one of whom died as an infant.

During their 18 years of marriage, Longfellow wrote some of his most well-loved works: “The Song of Hiawatha” and “Evangeline.” In 1861, Fannie’s dress accidentally caught on fire while she sealed envelopes with hot wax. Longfellow tried to put out the flames, at first with a rug and then with his own body. She died a day later from her injuries, and Longfellow’s burns on his face and hands prevented him from attending her funeral. It was said that he grew his beard to cover the scars. Longfellow was so overcome with grief and depression at her death that he feared losing his mind. A year later he would write, “I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps some day God will give me peace.” So, Longfellow’s writing was only to friends and his journal during those dark days. On Christmas of 1861, he wrote in his journal, “How inexpressively sad are all holidays!”

Two years later, in the middle of the American Civil War, Charles, Longfellow’s oldest son (only 18 years old), left Massachusetts, without his father’s knowledge, to join the Union Army. Longfellow was a strong abolitionist and would later give permission for his son to become a soldier. On December 1, 1863 while eating dinner, Longfellow received word that Charles had been severely wounded and doctors suspected paralysis. Longfellow, along with his second son, rushed to Virginia to retrieve Charles to return him to Massachusetts for medical care.

On Christmas Day of 1864 while the war was still raging, Longfellow wrote “Christmas Bells,” which expressed the dissonance he felt between the joys of Christmas and the violence of war. The words are below. The poem was put to music by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872, and the title was changed to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I hope you can take solace in these words.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day; Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along
    The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime,
    A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
    “For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

The last two stanzas reflect my feelings during this Christmas season. In the midst of all of the turmoil in our world, I choose to remember that “God is not dead, nor does He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail.”

The above article was gleaned from information at Hymnology Archives, New England Historical Society, and articles written by various people.

Just a few days ago, our family gathered around a sumptuous Thanksgiving table for a special celebration. I doubt that any of us, me included, were as thankful as we should have been. Knowing the war situation in the Middle East, we should have been thankful that no one with an AK-47 broke down my door to take us hostage. And no one, broke into the house to steal and ravage my home. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of living in peace?

Knowing that thousands of people die each day from hunger, we should have been more thankful for all the food. A recent UN World Food Programme report noted, “In Afghanistan, 4 million women and children are severely malnourished.” People in many African nations are experiencing famine and therefore a lack of food. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of eating three meals a day?

Knowing that hundreds of people are lonely and suffering from depression, thinking no one cares, I should have been more thankful that I was surrounded by people who love and care for me. Besides my family with me for Thanksgiving, I had a couple of phone calls, numerous emails, ecards, and texts, and a visit from a friend. Was I sincerely grateful for these expressions of love and concern?

Psychologists tell us that there are benefits to living a life of thankfulness. A Presbyterian pastor recently sat next to a psychologist while traveling by air. The psychologist explained that living a thankful life even changes patterns in the brain, which can help our overall health. Other articles say that thankfulness can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, promote good sleep, ease depression, improve immunity, and assist in heart health and chronic pain. It’s no wonder that God’s Word says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV).

While in prison for preaching the gospel, the apostle Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). Wow!  According to Paul, the benefits of prayer with thanksgiving are healthy hearts and minds.

As widows, we tend to think about and wish for the days when our husbands were alive during holiday times and when life was not so complicated. But it’s during these difficult times when thankfulness provides us with its greatest benefits. With God’s help, I’m going to make a concerted effort to be more thankful for what I have rather than concentrating on what I am lacking.

Just a few days ago, our family gathered around a sumptuous Thanksgiving table for a special celebration. I doubt that any of us, me included, were as thankful as we should have been. Knowing the war situation in the Middle East, we should have been thankful that no one with an AK-47 broke down my door to take us hostage. And no one, broke into the house to steal and ravage my home. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of living in peace?

Knowing that thousands of people die each day from hunger, I should be more thankful that I have enough to eat each day.  A recent UN World Food Programme article reported, “In Afghanistan, 4 million women and children are severely malnourished.” People in many African nations are experiencing famine and therefore a lack of food. Am I truly thankful for the privilege of eating three meals a day?

Knowing that hundreds of people are lonely and suffering from depression, thinking no one cares, I should have been more thankful that I was surrounded by people who love and care for me. Besides my family with me for Thanksgiving, I had a couple of phone calls, numerous emails, ecards, and texts, and a visit from a friend. Was I sincerely grateful for these expressions of love and concern?

Psychologists tell us that there are benefits to living a life of thankfulness. A Presbyterian pastor recently sat next to a psychologist while traveling by air. The psychologist explained that living a thankful life even changes patterns in the brain, which can help our overall health. Other articles say that thankfulness can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, promote good sleep, ease depression, improve immunity, and assist in heart health and chronic pain. It’s no wonder that God’s Word says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV).

While in prison for preaching the gospel, the apostle Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). Wow!  According to Paul, the benefits of prayer with thanksgiving are healthy hearts and minds.

As widows, we tend to think about and wish for the days when our husbands were alive at holiday times and when life was not so complicated. It’s during those difficult times that thankfulness provides the greatest benefits. With God’s help, I’m going to make a concerted effort to be more thankful for what I have rather than concentrating on what I am lacking.

The article below by Larry Tomczak below appeared today in the Intercessors For America daily newsletter that I receive. The ending paragraph encouraged us to share the article, so I’m doing that. Also, it serves as a follow-up to my previous blog released earlier this week.

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As a Christian journalist for half a century, I have always tried to steer clear of sensationalism. But when Trump says: “America faces its final battle”; David Horowitz releases a book actually titled Final Battle; Franklin Graham warns: “We’re about to lose this country”; veteran analyst Cal Thomas says he sees “the contributing factors for the collapse of a nation”; and top commentators Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly both say that Biden has plunged us into what is probably the biggest presidential scandal in our nation’s history — I have to agree and present my own assessment.

My assignment is that of a “lookout” or a “watchman” akin to those in the Bible who understood the times with knowledge of what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). I’m convinced that darkness is descending upon America.

“… Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout what he sees” (Isaiah 21:6 NLT). I do foresee judgment. But at the same time, God is calling us to persevere and to transform this “final battle” into something like what Churchill hoped would one day be said of the struggling British forces during World War II: “their finest hour.”

The Bible warns us about saying that “everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4 NIV). God is patient … not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9 NIV), but there comes a time when the gavel falls!

Francis of Assisi said: “All the darkness can’t extinguish the light of a single candle.” And Scripture says: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5 NIV).

What’s Happening

Survey the spectacle of Trump’s four indictments accusing him of nearly 90 felony charges that could potentially put him in prison for over 700 years! Franklin Graham shared in a nationally televised interview with Christian commentator Greta Van Susteren that radical “progressives” are aggressively working to “inflict enough political wounds on Mr. Trump to stop him from running because the left is scared to death of him and what he’s trying to do. … [I]f he’s reelected president, he’ll throw a monkey wrench into their agenda for one world government. … [I]t’s an all-out effort as sinister and dangerous to America as 9/11.”

At the same time, 40% of the nation and 90% of the corrupt media ignore the ethics violations, lying, influence-peddling, and bribery allegations of Joe Biden, and his son and family. The man in the White House has said repeatedly that he “never discussed or had any business dealings with Hunter or any family members” — who mysteriously took in between $20 million and $30 million (from foreign adversaries like China and Russia), even as Hunter confessed on “Good Morning America” that he “had no business experience.” Millions and millions of dollars for doing virtually nothing, as Joe engaged in roughly 20 speakerphone calls on dinners and meetings tied to these matters.

Bank records reveal that after one meeting, $142,300 was wired, and the next day, payment was made for Hunter’s $142,300 luxury sports car!

Devon Archer, Hunter’s business partner, admitted that these foreigners gave because of the Biden “brand,” which was Joe aligned with his son, and not because the admittedly cocaine-addicted Hunter was in anyway experienced.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act “prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to assist in obtaining business.”

What did Hunter mean when it was revealed on the laptop he carelessly left behind that he had told his daughter he gave 50% of what he earned to his dad?

Tipping Point 

America has become very corrupt! Also, the policies of an inept figurehead president are actively promoting Marxist, morally bankrupt agendas. The Democratic Party has wrought unprecedented and unbelievable damage to this great nation. If these people have their way, we will soon be unable to recognize the United States of America.

The present corruption level is staggering, and yet the corrupt media is silencing the story (hear the crickets?). We must heed the prophetic warning of President Ronald Reagan, who told us: “Freedom is never passed on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years, telling our children and our children’s children, what it was once like in the United States, when men were free.”

In 1787, Ben Franklin told the people that they now had “a republic — if we can keep it!”

The Rev. Billy Graham once warned that “19 of 21 civilizations that collapsed did so from within.” America is teetering on the edge, and the trajectory is now like that of the fall of Rome.

Lessons to Learn

Recall the 1834 classic The Last Days of Pompeii, which tells the story of the prosperous and proud people who declined into decadence and deception, to then encounter sudden and cataclysmic destruction. The Mount Vesuvius eruption buried them alive, as, almost overnight, toxic smoke and ash spewed some 20 miles into the air. This “City of Sin” was infamous for its brothels, sexually explicit artwork, and homosexual imagery.

Will we learn these lessons from history, or will we be condemned to repeat that history?

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven … (Hebrews 12:25 NKJV).

Is it ultimately going to take a nightmarish calamity to jolt multitudes out of complacency and passivity?

Remember Jonathan Edwards in America’s First Great Awakening, who said that the primary hindrance to revival is spiritual pride, and nothing enables us to escape but humility, genuine repentance and total dependence on God. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow … (Psalm 107:39 NIV).

Seven Causes of a Country’s Collapse

In 1776, when America was being launched through our Declaration of Independence, historian Edward Gibbon published a classic book that served as a warning to those early colonists and which should be a warning also to us today. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire listed certain contributing factors to the collapse of that once great empire.

Here are seven factors I believe contribute to the collapse of nations.

1. Moral decline, depravity, and demonic activity
2. Breakdown of the family
3. Corruption in government and the press/media
4. Massive national debt
5. Skyrocketing crime and violence
6. Uncontrolled immigration and foreigners’ invasion
7. A weakened military

Here’s the deal: Alongside the Civil War, America is now at its defining moment — the most dangerous and divided time in our history. Our republic and Constitution are under unprecedented assault, and we must come to grips with widespread corruption in the White House, in our political parties, in the FBI, in the Department of Justice, and in the mass media. If this is indeed the “final battle,” America can still manage to survive, if we follow all the conditions in 2 Chronicles — before the sands in the hourglass run out:

“… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

I beseech you as a “watchman on the wall” to respond with a sense of urgency. The gravity of our situation is very real. Will this be the “final battle,” or our “finest hour?”

Share this article to encourage others to pray for our nation.

Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator for more than 50 years, an IFA board member, a bestselling author, and a public-policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcast here. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

With everything that’s going on in our nation’s capital now, I’ve been thinking much about my elementary-age years and the joys we had going to Washington, D.C. On Wednesdays during the summer, Mom would pack a picnic lunch, and we would go to D.C. as soon as Dad got off from work at noon. We’d head for the zoo, or National Airport, or to one of the historical sites. The zoo and other sites were fascinating and educational, but the airport helped to form my future. We would park the car next to the chain-link fence and watch in wonder as the planes took off or landed. I believe a seed was planted there for my love of flying and my desire to travel.

As a child, Washington was almost a sacred place. We highly respected our government officials, the flag, and our military. The Constitution was considered exceptional, the only one in the world that balanced the three branches of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. We not only read our local newspaper, but we also read The Washington Post. A sister and brother that lived a few doors from my grandparents took the train everyday into D.C. to work at the capitol. We honored them for their daily sacrifice and hard work. They were our heroes.

About 50 years ago as the Watergate scandal was being exposed little by little, my Washington bubble burst. For the first time, I realized that Washington was not as pure as I thought; everyone in the government did not have sterling motives. Those were difficult days in our nation’s history. At first, just seven people were arrested for the June 1972 burglary at the Washington offices of the Democratic Party. (The five who conducted the burglary and two who planned and paid for the it.) But by end of 1974, 69 people were indicted, including top government officials. Forty-eight government officials went to jail, and President Nixon resigned. But something good came from those chaotic days.

In August of 1973, as the investigation was closing in on him, Chuck Colson, special counsel to the President and the first to go to prison, accepted Christ as his Savior. A business friend, Tom, witnessed to him and encouraged him to read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Colson was called Watergate’s “master of dirty tricks” and “the evil genius of the Nixon administration,” but God completely revolutionized his life. About the night he heard the gospel, he said, I couldn’t drive out of Tom’s driveway. Ex-Marine captain, White House tough guy, I was crying too hard, calling out to God. I didn’t know what to say: I just knew I needed Jesus, and He came into my life.

Colson’s conversion was genuine. He pled guilty to obstruction of justice for his part in trying to cover-up Watergate and served seven months in a federal prison. There he became an evangelist and led many to Christ. Following his release, he founded Prison Fellowship Ministries and Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He traveled the world giving his testimony, wrote nearly 30 best-selling books, and received many awards for work and ministry.

God did not cause Colson’s Watergate suffering just so he could find Christ as Savior. Colson sinned and broke the law, which brought about prison. But God, in His mercy, brought something good out of the entire situation because Colson surrendered his life to Christ. The apostle Paul said, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV). If you are suffering today, know that God is not the author. He, however, is quite able to bring good out of those problems as you allow Him to work in your life.

I have hope that God is at work, despite all the lies, confusion, and dissension in our nation. Surely, He is in the process of calling others, like Colson, who will come out of a world of darkness and influence thousands of people for Christ.

These are challenging financial times for widows. The 2020 banking letter from the Federal Reserve of Chicago noted that that the average household income three years before a spouse dies is $75,000. Three years after a husband’s death, the widow’s income is reduced to $47,000. Some would say that the widow should do well because she is only responsible for one person now. However, the mortgage and car payments remain the same; utility bills usually increase every few years, and the widow now must hire a handyman to do home upkeep chores that the husband used to do. 

How was it possible that a bank with a 40-year reputation of supporting upstart businesses and the tech industry collapsed in one day? But the bank closed on March 10. Many people touted the Silicon Valley Bank as “the” bank to go to for investment, financial help, and security. Yet, when large depositors began withdrawing cash, SVB simply ran out of money. The bank took a $1.8 billion loss when, of necessity, it sold $21 billion worth of bonds. One financial expert said 190 other banks may be on the brink of failing. 

On May 1, another bank – First Republic Bank – was taken over by regulators and much of its holdings were bought by another large company. It was said that mass withdrawals led to this collapse. How is this possible? The bank officials should have taken precautions to prevent the disaster.

Jesus had much to say about money. He talked more about money and personal finances than He did about heaven and hell. He often used money in His parables to teach biblical principles. Here are a few fundamental truths Jesus taught about money.

• We should not let money rule our lives. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

• Giving that God honors is done so that only God gets the glory. Matthew 6:2-4. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by men. … But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

• In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus said that some seed, which is the Word of God, is sown among thorns. This is the person “who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful,” (Matthew 13:22). When Jesus had a conversation with the Rich Young Man in Matthew 19:16-26), He said, it’s difficult for a person who trust in his riches to enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 23).

• Investing in what pleases God or what God considers important brings heavenly rewards. “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Luke 12:33-34). 

• Jesus also talked about good stewardship: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28) The context of this Scripture is discipleship, but it’s an excellent business principle.

For most of us as widows, our financial resources are limited, which makes these difficult days even more challenging. How are we going to manage in 2023 with the prices of food, gas, and everyday living necessities increasing?  The following are a few tips garnered from Dave Ramsey, a financial guru:

1. Know your income and expenses.
2. Pray about your financial situation, asking the Lord to direct your planning and decisions.
3. Establish a budget and stick to it.
4. Put God first in your budgeting. 
5. Be wary of grief spending. 
6. Include savings, even if it’s small, in your budget.
7. Get out of debt and eliminate credit card spending. 
8. If needed, talk to a trusted financial advisor.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7) Jesus said: “Do not worry about what to eat, what to drink, or what to wear (Matthew 6:25-34). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). May God help all of us as widows to trust Him to see us through these troubled times.

Tomorrow (Friday—Good Friday) we honor Christ’s death. Reading the passages in the Gospels and reflecting on His great sacrifice help us to concentrate on the price He paid for our redemption.

            Matthew 26:1 – 27:65

            Mark 14:1 – 15:47

            Luke 22:1 – 23:56

            John 18:1 – 19:42

A millennium before Christ’s death, the Psalmist David described Jesus’ suffering (Psalm 22). Jesus even quoted David from this Psalm when He was on the Cross: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (22:1) People living in those days memorized large portions of Scripture, so when Jesus cried this phrase from the Cross, He was expecting people to remember the entire Psalm. Jesus was in essence asking people to refer to this Psalm to understand what was happening.

About 700 years before the actual crucifixion, the prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah’s death and gave us the how and why of His suffering: “Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that bought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53: 4, 5).

Sunday we will celebrate Christ’s resurrection with joyful songs of grace, redemption, and healing. Because of His resurrection, we can have hope for our resurrection. I’ll never forget my grandfather’s funeral more than 50 years ago and the joy I sensed as we sang the truth of John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” But we will never be able to fully rejoice on Easter Sunday unless we have experienced the cleansing of sin that Christ bought through the shedding of His blood on that Friday more than 2000 years ago.  

The sign on a local business says: “It’s not about the bunny; it’s about the Lamb.” As we color eggs and buy chocolate for our children and grandchildren, may we concentrate on the real meaning of Easter and honor our Savior who died so that we might have life.

A Test and a Miracle

Several weeks ago, I wrote a blog about our attitude when things seem to be going wrong (see “We Don’t Know”). I wrote that Jacob was convinced that “Everything was against him” (Genesis 42:36), but he did not know that God was birthing the greatest miracle of his life.  Little did I know that God was going to allow me to go through a circumstance that was seemingly VERY bad, but would, in the end, turn out for my good.

I decided one Saturday morning to return a jacket I bought online to the store where I purchased it, which was about an hour away from where I live. I was about half-way there when a flashing light came on my car dashboard. At first, I thought I would just continue as planned. Then I sensed that I should return home, so I turned around and headed back to Springfield.

I did not stop at my home but went immediately to the car dealership. I was told that it would be a couple of hours before they could discover the problem, so one of the men graciously brought me home. Shortly thereafter, the dealership rep called to tell me that I needed a new engine. I was shocked! A 2020 car with 27,000 miles should not have this problem. He also told me, however, that the car was under warranty, that the repair would be paid for, and that they would reimburse me for a rental. He also said the repairs would take about two months.

I had difficulty releasing the problem completely to the Lord, so I experienced several weeks of stress, sleeplessness, and headaches. I felt uneasy driving the rental. I would pray and give the problem to the Lord, but then something else would come up about the situation. I was not handling it well.

The dealership offered to buy my car, but what they offered was minimal to what a replacement would cost and minimal to what the car was worth if the engine were good. Besides the 20 months of payments that I still owed, I would have 3-4 years of additional payments at 9.9% interest. It was simply mind boggling. I could not envision going further into debt for an older car with more mileage than what I had been driving. What should I do? How should I do it? Who should I talk to? And what should I say when I talk to someone? I had no idea.

I was assigned a case worker at the auto’s corporate office. When she called and asked what I would like, I told her that I would like for them to buy back my car. Several days later she called to say they would pay for a new engine and the rental car, but buying my old car was not an option.  A friend told me that the repair would probably be much longer than the promised two months. Several others, including a mechanic, told me that the car would never function well again.

Days passed with no progress. When I called to ask the dealership questions, I was transferred from one department to another. No one seemingly wanted to be honest with me. Meanwhile, a friend from my Life Group told me she was still praying for a miracle.

About a week later, a salesperson from the dealership called. She said she had heard about my car problems; and now they would like to increase their purchase offer by $6,000.00. And she wanted to help get me find a different car. Several days after that, the corporate rep called to tell me that they would pay half of what I owed on the broken car. I could hardly believe what was happening.

Friends gave me advice about purchasing a car, the pros and cons of the ones I was looking at, and how to negotiate with the salesperson. To make a long story short, today I’m driving a different 2020 car with approximately the same mileage, and I owe nothing on the car. I do have a few payments for a service package I bought.

These past twp months or so have been stressful, but God has helped me to research options, to talk with people, and to choose the right vehicle. He gave me favor with people whom I’ve never met and helped me to sit quietly while waiting for answers.  Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). I hope I’ve learned my lesson.

Each January as I return to read Genesis, the Holy Spirit seems to emphasize something new. About a week ago I was reading chapter 42 when these words seemed to pop from the page:  Jacob said, “Everything is against me!” You and I may not have said it so others could hear, and our words may have been a bit different, but all of us have thought the same as Jacob.

It seems as if once we begin a day wrong, everything goes wrong. We have been awake only 30 minutes when we burn the toast and spill the coffee; we are low on gas and stopping to fill up makes us late for work. Then the computer has a glitch and the project we have just spent an hour on is gone and can’t be retrieved. Our lunch sandwich is soggy, so we throw it out. The hunger pains drive us to the candy machine, and all our healthy eating goals, which we have dutifully kept for three weeks, are broken. Then we remember that we forgot to thaw the meat for supper, and a friend who needs help is coming to share the meal. Yes, just as Jacob says, “Everything is against me!”

Sometimes days are just upside down. In those situations, we must train ourselves to rejoice even in challenging circumstances. What Jacob didn’t know (and what we often have no idea of) is that God was in the process of providing the biggest miracle of his life.

If you remember the story found in Genesis 37, ten of Jacob’s sons decided to get rid of their younger brother, Joseph. They were jealous of Jacob’s obvious affection and preference. At first, they put him in a pit, but then got the bright idea to sell him into slavery to men who were traveling to Egypt. Jacob was sure Joseph was dead when the brothers showed Jacob his son’s beautiful blood-stained coat. (The brothers killed an animal and put the coat in the blood.)

God prospered Joseph in Egypt as he worked for Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, until Potiphar’s wife decided to entice him. When Joseph continually refused her advances, she looked for a way to trap him. He escaped, but she lied about the incident, and Potiphar put Joseph in prison. God even blessed Joseph there. Through providential circumstances (see Genesis 39-45), Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and was appointed as second in command in the land to oversee the stores of grain to prepare for the coming famine.  

Joseph’s brothers go twice to Egypt to buy grain. The story in Genesis in 43-45 is fascinating, and Joseph finally revealed his true identity. Joseph’s attitude was exemplary; he told his brothers, “[D]o not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you,” (Genesis 45:5). The brothers returned to Canaan and brought Jacob to Egypt where he lived until his death at age 147.

When Joseph introduced his father to Pharoah and Pharoah asked him his age, Jacob could have told him all of God’s blessings. Afterall, he had sons, daughters, grandchildren, great wealth, was a healthy 130-year-old man at the time, and he was now with the son whom he thought was dead. And that boy was a leader in the land. What more could a man ask for?  Instead, Jacob said, “My years have been few and difficult.” Poor Jacob, regardless of God’s goodness to him, he looked on the dark side of everything.

We may be going through very difficult times, but we have no idea what God is working out in our lives. Unless, however, we learn to trust the Lord and praise Him when things are challenging, we will not be able to rejoice well when we are blessed. Sarah Young offers this prayer in Jesus Listens: “Sovereign Lord, please help me to live joyfully in the midst of my struggles.… I need to remember that You’re always in control and taking care of me.”

Thinking about you today and trust that you are experiencing the peace and presence of the Lord as you are either with friends, family or alone. The Lord is with you wherever you are.