Finding the Good News
Titus 3:4-7 (NLT)
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns!
are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns!
Many times in our lives, we have or will be waiting for “the feet of him who brings good news,” as we anticipate events. Maybe it is a school test result...the arrival of a loved one from travels...the results of medical tests or the birth of a child. The list is endless, but what if the results are not good news? What if the results are not what we were wanting to hear?
In the summer of 2021, our family was anticipating the birth of a grandchild with all the joy and expectations a family typically has at that time. Several months prior to birth, we became aware there were concerns with the health of our baby. We prayed, our friends prayed, and our churches prayed for a change in the outcome but “the feet” did not bring the good news we wanted to hear.
As the parents began adjusting to a new reality, they shared Della’s story on social media daily with details about her health, her steps forward and her steps back. I must be honest and say I thought such openness on social media was a mistake. However, an unexpected thing happened, or at least it was unexpected to me: there was a tremendous outpouring of love and prayers from around the world, the placing of Della on hundreds of prayer lists, the overwhelming number of kind words posted back on social media, and the surprise of people from all walks of life reaching out to lend support daily.
The news may not always come in ways we want or expect, but possibly we need to be open to hearing and seeing the good news in different ways. In our case we have learned to rely more deeply upon our God for strength to face an unknown future and to see Christ in the faces of the nurses and hospital staff who cared for them. We give thanks for the church members who brought meals for many months and still continue to do so and the friends who came unexpectedly to mulch the flower beds and the many kind words and hugs.
We worship a God of grace, mercy, and love who can and will give us the strength we need and surround us with fellow Christians who will share our burdens. THAT is the good news.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to see the good news in all of the situations we find ourselves in life. Help us to lean into your grace, mercy and love each day. Amen.
In the summer of 2021, our family was anticipating the birth of a grandchild with all the joy and expectations a family typically has at that time. Several months prior to birth, we became aware there were concerns with the health of our baby. We prayed, our friends prayed, and our churches prayed for a change in the outcome but “the feet” did not bring the good news we wanted to hear.
As the parents began adjusting to a new reality, they shared Della’s story on social media daily with details about her health, her steps forward and her steps back. I must be honest and say I thought such openness on social media was a mistake. However, an unexpected thing happened, or at least it was unexpected to me: there was a tremendous outpouring of love and prayers from around the world, the placing of Della on hundreds of prayer lists, the overwhelming number of kind words posted back on social media, and the surprise of people from all walks of life reaching out to lend support daily.
The news may not always come in ways we want or expect, but possibly we need to be open to hearing and seeing the good news in different ways. In our case we have learned to rely more deeply upon our God for strength to face an unknown future and to see Christ in the faces of the nurses and hospital staff who cared for them. We give thanks for the church members who brought meals for many months and still continue to do so and the friends who came unexpectedly to mulch the flower beds and the many kind words and hugs.
We worship a God of grace, mercy, and love who can and will give us the strength we need and surround us with fellow Christians who will share our burdens. THAT is the good news.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to see the good news in all of the situations we find ourselves in life. Help us to lean into your grace, mercy and love each day. Amen.
Jeffrey A. Porter, Barboursville, WV, jporter@porter.cpa, Chair, Conference Council on Finance and Administration
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