Abigail, is our precious 6 year-old middle daughter.
As you can appreciate leaving a place where she was accustomed and had made friends and moving to a strange new place, can be discomforting, traumatic and unnerving. In a previous school she had suffered from some of the effects of the trauma of the new and it affected her learning development. Yet true to being her mother’s daughter, she defied the prognosis that others had said was hers. Slowly but surely, she grew in confidence and ability and already displays signs of being particularly excellent in some pursuits, whilst proving surprising competence in other areas. All this whilst still retaining the gift of mischief essential in childhood.
She was reading to me the other day, and as I listened to her work out the words and read with the right emotion in the right places, my heart gladdened at the big steps she had taken from her reading ability even from a year ago.
Needless to say there were high-fives and hugs all round when she finished and we affirmed how well she was doing, and the excellent progress she had made.
As she went to get her night wash and then got ready for bed, I started thinking about God’s achievements through us. I wonder if we can see God celebrating these achievements through us. I believe we see it when God affirms His Son at the baptism, and then again during the transfiguration episode. This level of celebration is rife throughout scripture and I believe is innate for the human experience. We do well, we are conscious of an accomplishment, we mark it, we celebrate.
I wonder, however, if we acknowledge God’s achievements in our lives for what they are. Whether it’s in Deuteronomy or in some of the Psalms, there is something about recounting the story and highlighting some of the accomplishments, whether it’s God beating the Egyptians and getting the Israelites over the Red Sea, or people seeing other miraculous works of God as they progress to what He has in store for them.
It’s worth bearing that in mind when we look at things like thanksgiving. Yes it is spot on to thank God for daily blessings such as food, clothes, life, etc. Yet it is also worth remembering how He accomplished those things in your life, which you might neglect, or consider nothing, but actually would not have been possible without God. Likewise overcoming those significant challenges in your life from puberty to university, or in getting that first job, or in recovering from that sickness. Then look at the work in your life achieving those steps towards being conformed to the image of His Son.
Think about those people who experienced God’s grace through your serving in word or deed. Maybe it was a song you had that lifted someone from a deep depression. Perhaps it was sharing that bowl of soup just in the nick of time for that person who was poorly and needed it. It could have been just being there with someone when they were going through a rough patch. all these look insignificant to some – but in the economy of God where righteousness, peace and spiritual joy have a high value, those acts are more than worth their weight in gold. For God to achieve these through you, is something worth acknowledging and celebrating.
Why? Well for two reasons. One it is the natural response of thanksgiving. He did it, it’s worth saying thanks about it. And thanks to God is no small deal. It’s not chump change that you dish out in an off-hand manner It’s something major.
Secondly, however, recalling God’s achievements in your life acts as an indication of what He intends to continue to do. He will achieve more through your life. In your toughest times, He will equip, enable and empower you to endure, because He has achieved before. His track record, not just in scripture, but in the narrative of your life guarantees opposition and challenging times, and a God who will help you overcome.
He will continue to do that, so you don’t need to be anxious. He will continue to do that, so you can expect it. Just as we celebrate God’s achievements in the life of our precious middle daughter, Abigail.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 