Grumpy or grateful

[During this time of staying put due to the Covid 19 thing, I have not been able to take up some of the speaking engagements at a number of churches. However, I have written up a couple of things that I had already prepared and thought I'd share them here. This is one of them.]

Grumpy or grateful

Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

You probably know the story. God brought the people of Israel out of a horrible situation in Egypt where they had been slaves. They were free! But then they began to grumble. “We were better off in Egypt. There was good food there. Garlic and onions.” (Just the right ingredients to start off a good pumpkin soup!)

God provided daily food for them on the journey, but they thought it was boring. “Same old, same old… every day.’ And now there’s no water.  Just two pages earlier (in my Bible) God had provided sweet water for them. So, did they think, Well God has given us good things, so we’ll be fine. Nup. They grumbled and questioned “Is the Lord with us or not?’

Silly people.

So, what about us?

We all face personal challenges and now there is the tremendous challenge and uncertainty of Covid19. Will we grump and complain, or will we look to God in faith and gratitude?

There are still things to be grateful for. For friends and family, for the promise that with the Lord there is steadfast – unfailing, passionate, extravagant - love.

(Psalm 130:7)

Gratitude is recognised as good for mental health. All sorts of people make a practice of recording things to be glad about. It doesn’t deny that times are tough, but…

Habbakuk 3:17 -19 
Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labour of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

The Lord God is my strength;

So, when we ask the question Is God with us? the resounding answer is YESSS!!!

Glenys Badger March 2020