Editor’s Note: Some content for this post is from Grief Bites: Finding Treasure in Hardships YouVersion Reading Plan
All gifts from God have great value.
James 1:17 NLT Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
We Christians love to quote this verse. We quote it when we're praying for a material blessing, a spouse, a child, healing, a promotion, and other, what we call “good stuff”. We quote if again when our prayers are answered exactly the way we wanted God to answer them. It's like the letters we wrote Santa Claus at Christmas and hints or out-and-out requests to our parents for our birthday when we were kids.
When we got what we asked for we were filled with excitement. We jumped for joy hugged our parents and told them how much we loved them. In much the same way we give God high praise...when we get the good stuff we asked for.
That joy and praise is even greater when we get “good stuff” that we didn't ask for. Our parents, or God, gave it just because they love us.
Have you ever received a gift you did not like...only to see the gift's true value later on?
What about the time you asked for a video game and got a book, or you asked for a bike and got a bible, or a doll and got an Audible Bible? Were you happy at the time? Did you jump for joy, hug your parents, and tell them how much you love them? I'm sure that some of you did but I know that you're a small minority. When you look back over the years my guess is that while at the time you were disaster, you now consider those among the most valuable gifts you've ever received.
Video games get old when the next one comes out, bikes get old and you lose interest, you outgrow dolls, but those other things never get old in fact they become more valuable.
We tend to focus on the gifts we didn't want or like
Isn’t that how we ALL are with God at times?
He gives us marvelous gifts EACH & EVERY DAY…gifts we didn’t earn or deserve: His unconditional love & forgiveness, family, friends, health, jobs, homes, appliances to make our lives easier, churches, food, nature, laughter, music, cars, vacations, FUN, electronics, phones, everything good…yet we become angry, resentful, and distant when He gives us (or allows) something we didn’t want or ask for.
All gifts from God have great value.
James 1:17 NLT Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
We Christians love to quote this verse. We quote it when we're praying for a material blessing, a spouse, a child, healing, a promotion, and other, what we call “good stuff”. We quote if again when our prayers are answered exactly the way we wanted God to answer them. It's like the letters we wrote Santa Claus at Christmas and hints or out-and-out requests to our parents for our birthday when we were kids.
When we got what we asked for we were filled with excitement. We jumped for joy hugged our parents and told them how much we loved them. In much the same way we give God high praise...when we get the good stuff we asked for.
That joy and praise is even greater when we get “good stuff” that we didn't ask for. Our parents, or God, gave it just because they love us.
Have you ever received a gift you did not like...only to see the gift's true value later on?
What about the time you asked for a video game and got a book, or you asked for a bike and got a bible, or a doll and got an Audible Bible? Were you happy at the time? Did you jump for joy, hug your parents, and tell them how much you love them? I'm sure that some of you did but I know that you're a small minority. When you look back over the years my guess is that while at the time you were disaster, you now consider those among the most valuable gifts you've ever received.
Video games get old when the next one comes out, bikes get old and you lose interest, you outgrow dolls, but those other things never get old in fact they become more valuable.
We tend to focus on the gifts we didn't want or like
Isn’t that how we ALL are with God at times?
He gives us marvelous gifts EACH & EVERY DAY…gifts we didn’t earn or deserve: His unconditional love & forgiveness, family, friends, health, jobs, homes, appliances to make our lives easier, churches, food, nature, laughter, music, cars, vacations, FUN, electronics, phones, everything good…yet we become angry, resentful, and distant when He gives us (or allows) something we didn’t want or ask for.
“Gifts” you received from God or more accurately, He allows, that you didn't ask for, like grief and being sick may be the most treasured gifts you will ever receive. Sometimes, the gifts you don’t want will often have great value…later on.
Psalms 30:11-12 NLT You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Think about a “gift in disguise” you didn’t want…something you resent God for. Ask Him to show you the gifts He has for you through your personal trials. Sometimes, you will not know the worth and value of a gift until you get to heaven…but sometimes, they may end up being exactly what you need at a future date in life.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord ’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Never discount any gift God can offer you…even the ones you don’t want.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
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