November 16:
Give thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
On June 5, 2011, Lauren Graham’s life was changed. She
had just returned from an extraordinary experience
participating in mission work in India and was excited
about the summer ahead of her, anticipating the beginning
of her junior year of college. Then on that Sunday, when
returning home from worship, she was involved in a tragic
automobile accident that left her in a coma for weeks.
On October 5, 2011, the title of her online journal was
“Lauren Celebrates.” She and her family were celebrating Lauren leaving
the hospital and the gift of life that God has so graciously given her. She
writes:
“…God is a healing God and in His great
compassion He saw fit to heal me! I am also
celebrating how God has deepened my
dependence on Him. God has ordained that
prayer is a means by which He effects many of
His purposes on earth and The Accident has
caused me to pray more, to pray more fervently,
and to pray with more faith believing that He
hears and He answers.”
Even in the days when we face uncertainty and pain, we
have reason to thank God. When the month is longer
than our money or when our patience is shorter than
God’s timing, we have reason to thank God.
On June 5, 2021, celebrating ten years after the day that changed her life, Lauren writes:
Because I have repented of my sins, and I believe in the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, my hope is not in this life — my hope is in eternity.
And that’s why, even with all of the additional challenges that are now in my life, I am thankful.
I’m thankful because I’ve been given life.
I didn’t have to survive.
But by the Lord’s abundant kindness, I did.
Because the Lord graciously spared my life, I have been given the opportunity to share my story, my “good news,” as a platform to share even better news: that Christ died in our place so that we can be forgiven of our sins!
With a built-in platform to share that, I’ll take a brain injury any day :+)
And, the more time that passes, the more I realize how each challenge is really a blessing in its own way. Sure, it’s hard, but it makes me more dependent on the Lord.
Which is exactly where we need to be. Where I need to be.
Ever heard the saying, “she’s so heavenly minded she’s no earthly good”?
It’s not true.
I would argue that only those who are heavenly-minded are any earthly good.
Like Lauren, we must gain perspective about what God
is doing through our circumstances. In her case, she
realizes a deeper dependence on God through this time.
Give thanks to God, today, for where you are. He is
there, at work, accomplishing His will. Give thanks!