I believe every experience God allows into my life is for my good and His glory. Whether joyful or pain-filled, God has decided to let me have the experience as a gift. He walks with me, if I let Him, in the good times and bad, gently pointing out the lessons and blessings in each day. When I remember to look for the lessons and blessings in even the minutia of my life, I have no time to worry …

Power Walking with Jonna, November 18, 2018

When I wrote that, I was addressing the subject of forgiveness. I still believe those words, but lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the “lessons and blessings” God sends.

Because I believe that God IS, and that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, I believe every experience in my life is filtered through His perfect will; each moment holds both blessings and lessons for my benefit.

I confess that it is often easier to find the lesson than the blessing in some situations.

Here in California we are experiencing our annual wildfire season with smoke-filled air, excessive heat, and frequent power outages. When added to the unpleasantness of Covid-19 and our divisive political climate, it is hard to see any blessings.

Some days it seems the main lesson is to just give up. However, when I look hard enough, I believe I will find what God is trying to tell me. Even if it takes some time, I believe I will eventually see the blessings, as well.

I believe Christianity is a relationship. God deals with each of His children individually. The blessings and lessons in these days may be different for me than they are for you, but I know they are there for all believers.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

John 3:16 (NIV)