So, this is how it played out this morning. First, don’t set your alarm the night before and you end up getting up a little later than usual. Rats! Second, work your way through the morning readings. Be a bit bummed by Solomon’s morose take on wisdom in Ecclesiastes . . . shudder at Jeremiah’s “thus says the Lord” words of judgment upon a hard-hearted people who just weren’t getting it . . . move on to John and praise God that “God so love the world”, being reminded that “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). And then . . . then get really, really down to earth by reading the last portion of James 4. Bam!!! “You do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:13-14) . . . flashback . . . August 23 . . . go to bed . . . thinking I knew what I’d do the next day . . . but, not so much . . . I had no idea of what the next hour would bring . . . much less the next day.

And after my readings this morning . . . I decided to look back to how I processed them back in 2008 . . . and, to be honest, it kind of ministered to me . . . here’s what I wrote then . . .

. . . against that big backdrop of awesome God . . . Savior and Destroyer . . . Redeemer and Judge . . . Caring Shepherd and Refining Fire . . . God of the good times and God of the not so good times . . . against that backdrop I enter Solomon’s world . . .

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV)

Isn’t it true that, if we had our way, we’d be on the mountain-top 24/7? I’d take the “light-hearted comedy” over the “gut-wrenching docu-drama” anytime. Give me the happy ending over tragic un-certainty. I always wanna see the good guy get the gal next door. And when life’s like that, Solomon says, “Enjoy yourself! Be happy! Have a blast!” These days, he says, come from God . . . rejoice in them and give Him all the glory.

Good stuff? Amen! But wise old Solomon is inspired by the Holy Spirit to record some balanced sage advice, “Not every day’s gonna be a happy day.” I really don’t like to think about that but, true enough. And God’s inspired word says that when you find yourself in the “day of adversity” . . . when the going gets tough . . . when the bad guy seems to be winning . . . when there’s tears rather than laughter . . . then “consider”.

It’s an imperative . . . a command . . . it’s what we are to do when we find ourselves in the dumps . . . consider. Have a good hard look, Solomon says, when the days are grey. Give attention to . . . inspect . . . observe . . . think about . . . learn from. Remembering that this day too is from awesome God. There’s a lot of learning to be done in the tough times . . . both about our God and about ourselves. And I’m not trying to be trite . . . but I think it’s Biblical . . . it’s what Solomon is saying. If God is God . . . if all our days are ordained of Him . . . then He is as much behind the tough times as He is the good times. He has appointed prosperity, He has appointed adversity. He has allowed both. And in those days of difficulty, He says, “Consider.”

And part of that consideration is remembering that “man can find out nothing that will come after him,” or as the NLT puts it, “Remember, that nothing is certain in this life.” We can make all the plans we want, but days of adversity are really a reminder that only God knows our future, we sure don’t. And if you think about it, that can be kind of a healthy reminder or wakeup call from time to time. Being reminded that we are really not in control can cause us to take nothing for granted. Looking deep into the days of adversity will cause us to look up . . . and remind us that “we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2Cor. 5:7). The day of trouble can drive us to our knees and bring us back to the place where we need to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding . . . that we need to acknowledge Him in all our ways . . . and in all our days . . . believing that He will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Remember . . . consider . . . He is awesome God . . . Savior and Destroyer . . . Redeemer and Judge . . . Caring Shepherd and Refining Fire . . . God of the good times . . . God of the bad. And the day of adversity can be used to drive us into His loving arms. The day of adversity reminds us that He is control.The day of adversity becomes our call to renewed faith and trust . . .

. . . true in 2008? . . . true today. Maybe somewhat more theoretical then . . . far more “real life” since my August 23rd wake up call. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring . . . but I know the God who sent His Son to redeem the world is the God who has promised to work all things together for good . . . the God who has promised never to leave me nor forsake me . . . the God who is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. So, let’s do today . . . and we’ll trust Him with tomorrow . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory . . . amen?

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