In a list of meaningful but “minor impressions,” beloved columnist/author, Joe Bayly, wrote the following for Saturday, July 28, 1962:
“Rode the merry-go-round tonight with happy David and worried Nathan, while Mary Lou looked on and waved each time we passed. Timmy kept up with us, running, for three times around”(1).
And then Joe included this familiar scripture:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17–NIV, emphasis added).
That means everything good in this world comes from God—even a delightful ride on a merry-go-round.
Sometimes, however, the goodness of God’s gifts isn’t immediately recognizable.
Scripture offers a number of examples, such as Paul’s thorn in the flesh. The exact nature of the problem was never revealed, but we do know it was chronic and debilitating. Who would call that a good and perfect gift?
Paul did.
“At first I didn’t think of it as a gift,” he said.
Then God told him, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need.”
“Once I heard that,” Paul explained, “I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.” (vs. 7-10, The Message).
I, for one, have never had to deal with a long-term thorn in the flesh. But difficult, shorter-term circumstances have turned into tremendous blessings. For example:
- A particularly exhausting week of teaching, family responsibilities, and other pressing matters was followed up by a weekend music retreat at church. How could I muster the energy to attend and complete a long must-do-by-Monday list? While visions of PJs and pillows danced in my head, I dragged myself to church. But through the funny and inspiring retreat leader, the uplifting music, and the invigorating camaraderie of music ministry friends, I left Friday evening highly rejuvenated, looking forward to more blessings come Saturday and Sunday.
- Our son was not accepted into his first choices of graduate schools, and we wondered what God was doing. Was Eric proceeding in the right direction? Those trying days, however, turned into lessons of trust and spiritual maturity for him, which he humbly took to heart. As for the university that did accept him? That’s where Eric met his wife.
- Into every life a few challenging people must fall, right? And with them often come discouragement, stress, and hurt. Where’s the blessing in all that? For starters, God uses such relationships to train us in turning our thoughts to the positive (Philippians 4:8), so we can experience renewal and peace. We also develop perseverance and maturity (James 1:2-4)—traits that lead to a calm and steady life anchored on Jesus.
God gives only good and perfect gifts. Sometimes they come as small but delightful surprises—like a perfect merry-go-round moment.
Sometimes they come wrapped inside trying circumstances.
But those are some of his best gifts–when negative is transformed into positive.
Because that’s downright miraculous.
* * * * * * * * * *
Have you ever received a good and perfect gift out of difficult circumstances? Tell us your story in the comments below.
(1) Joe Bayly, Out of My Mind: The Best of Joe Bayly, Zondervan, 1993, p. 41.
(Photo credit: www.elcivics.com, http://www.pinterest.com.)
From the Inside Out 
Such a good and timely (timeless, actually) reminder.
Thank you, Dawn. You’re right: this is one of those timeless reminders we need to return to when difficult circumstances overtake us.
Nancy, your mention of the positive turning into something negative as gifts come ‘wrapped in trying circumstances’ made me think of the way a pearl is made….all the irritating sand turns into something exquisite.
(p.s. I don’t know who Joe Bayly is but I like the quote!)
What a perfect object lesson for this concept: irritating sand creating an exquisite pearl. Thank you, Jody! As for Joe Bayly, does the book, The Gospel Blimp, sound familiar? It’s one of his better-known works. Joe was of our parents’ generation.)
We had a son involved in a serious accident a year and a half ago. We did not know if He was going to make it.
God showed our adopted children (then foster children) that they were forever secure in our family. They thought we were not going to keep them. BUT God continually pointed all of us to His amazing love for us and taught us all about how His image had been imprinted on each member of the family, and on our family as a whole.
Yes, “EVERY good 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”
(My ears perked up when I saw your title… almost done memorizing chapter 3 🙂 )
Thanks again for all you do to bring us God’s Word! Blessings, Nancy!
I well remember that trying time after your son’s accident. MANY of us were praying for him, and praised God for his affirmative, miraculous action on Cory’s behalf. (‘Hope I remembered his name correctly!) Also marvel at God’s engineering of circumstances to bring those precious children into your family through foster care to finally be adopted. What a glorious blessing for us all to enjoy as observers! P.S. You are memorizing the entire book of James? I’m impressed–especially since English is a second language for you!
Thank you, dear Nancy, for all those prayers (and for remembering those details). I marvel along with you at our faithful and ever-present God. P.S. yes 🙂
Reading this, I am just moved to praise the Lord that I, too, have not had a long-term ‘thorn in the flesh’. I remember complaining about this or that growing up; my Dad would always say ‘Just be thankful you have your health!’. Being young and healthy…those words didn’t make much of an impression on me. But…the older I get the more those words ring true and extremely important! Most of all… something to indeed be thankful for!
Isn’t it puzzling that our minds tend toward the negative and not the positive?! Part of our fallen nature, no doubt. But the more we look to praise the Lord, the better off our spirits. Thank you for your insightful observation, Cheri!