The Works of God

I am very grateful to Justin Tayor for pointing to these videos from Josh McPherson, Pastor of Grace Covenant Church, who just welcomed his fourth child and second with disabilities into the world.

Josh and I corresponded earlier this year.  I’m grateful to God for men like him!  One thing I’m grateful for is in how he prepares his people for suffering through his own experiences.  For example, he shared with them this past January what he wrote in his journal just before they learned their son, Gideon, would also live with Spina Bifida:

“We will entrust ourselves into your hands. We love you Father. Thanks for being good, and for being in control. There is nothing sweeter, nor brings more comfort, than this. You do all things well.”

45 minutes after writing those words, I heard the words, for the second time in my life, “Spina Bifida”, and nothing about what I wrote changed. Will it be hard in the days to come? Most definitely. Has it changed our family forever? Completely. Is there pain? Absolutely. Is there heartache? Certainly. But oh how much more quickly the sun broke through the clouds this time, for we knew that there was design in this suffering, and that brings tremendous hope.

The two minute introduction below is amazing.  Then read or watch the entire sermon and feel the weight of Paul’s description of the Christian life in this man’s home, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10).”  I was tremendously blessed and encouraged by it!