Good and Perfect Gifts

This morning I woke up before my alarm (!) and sat in my comfy blue La-Z-Boy, watching flakes of snow fall outside. A miracle for early December in KY! And today especially, it just overwhelmed me that God should choose to create something so beautiful as snow. I mean, who'd have thought to make fluffy white stuff that falls from the sky and covers up the barren ugliness of winter, turning it into such a new and wonderful world of whiteness? We are so undeserving of the love that even such a small thing as this displays!

But today in particular, each little flake seemed specially sent down from a dear Father in heaven, who thought to order such a special gift for Hopie's 6th birthday! He knows what little girls love, so this snow isn't just a natural phenomenon...they're snowflakes from heaven! :) Each one crafted individually and uniquely by the same God who, "Brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name."

(Is. 40:26)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

(James 1:17)

Sometimes the gift might not be so enchanting as fresh snowfall. It might even be something the world would be inclined to call a curse.

An illness.

Difficulty making ends meet.

The loss of a loved one.

A hurtful misunderstanding.

But the God who would send us a gift that cost Him so much; who sent His dear and beloved only Son, to live on this earth, endure such hardships, loneliness, and suffering; who ordained for Him to die such a cruel death in the place of those who only mocked and hated Him, is the same One who ordains the strange gifts of difficulty and suffering for His children, "so that being justified by His grace, we might become heirs according ot the hope of eternal life."

(Titus 3:7)

It can be so hard to understand sometimes. We can't see, and don't often understand how He works or why He allows things that seem so much more to our hurt than for our good!

 But our God is LIGHT, "with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

"For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

(2 Cor. 4:6)

It is light that gives us a sense of depth and perspective in what we see--

whether an object is round or square, rough or smooth.
Perspective changes somewhat based on where the light is coming from. But when the light comes from inside, from the Light of the World, not only do the dark shadows in our own hearts flee away, it also gives us God's perspective of the world around us and the events that happen. Though our eyes still see dimly, and though the flesh still hinders at times, Christ in our hearts sheds a whole new light on things like suffering and pain, that we never understood before.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction ['we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself'] is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

(2 Cor. 4:16-18, 1:8)

Like the flakes of snow, what He sends to each believer is unique. Weeping and rejoicing together. To grow our faith, heighten our dependence, increase our love, to purify and make us more holy. And in the end, they collect together as a beautiful blanket of white that reflects His beautiful grace and glory.

One day I hope I'll be able to look back and see how faithfully and mercifully He has dealt with me in all things, and how "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28) And praise Him for each moment of my life. Good or ill. Joyful or sorrowful. Because the Master Craftsman of this beautiful world chose to take me into His hand to faithfully work and bring to completion the good work He started in me when He saved me. Even if it be by means I don't always comprehend.

So count each flake as joy, for it comes from the hand and heart of an ever-faithful, awesome, loving God! And know that you can cast yourself and your cares fully upon Him in your day of trouble. For there is no trouble He gives, that He does not also promise to give shelter and help in the midst of.