Odd Gifts Found in Strange Places

by Jon H.

I was asked to write this article over a month ago. Little did I know at the time, it would be published during a season such as this. Amongst the countless thoughts I’ve had during these crazy times, I wanted to share two things that I’ve rediscovered and learned to enjoy.

1.  God brings his strength through weakness 

The current pandemic is forcing the world to come face-to-face with our utter weakness. It’s mind-boggling to think that a microscopic virus can shut down the entire globe! Personally, I don’t like seeing my weaknesses let alone feeling helpless. But during this season, this has all become too glaring. I am dependent on others to ship food (and toilet paper) to the store and I am dependent on others to sell it to me. No matter how many times I wash my hands, I am helpless to ensure personal protection from Covid-19. Ultimately, it is obvious that I am dependent on God for everything both big and small, eternal and immediate.  

In 2 Cor 12:9, Jesus reminds us that our weaknesses are vessels for God’s strength. My powerlessness is the container that carries God’s power. My frailties are the occasions for God’s grace to glimmer. If this is true, then some of the things I hate to face and feel are necessary for me to see and experience God’s might. I must decrease that He might increase! This gives me hope. The very thing I’m good at (being needy) is the means by which God’s greatness is displayed. Additionally, if we are witnessing global-sized weakness, I trust that God will be bringing global-sized transformation as well. Maybe not easy and painless change but God-sized and glorious, nonetheless.

2. God sends gifts in plain packages

If God brings his power through our weaknesses, some of us may be wondering, “Why don’t I see it happening in my life?” One reason might be because it has not happened yet. In other words, God’s grace is still coming, so hang in there! But another reason might be because it is here but we have yet to recognize it. Why? Because God’s gifts often come in unusual packages, seemingly wrapped in plain brown paper rather than glitz and gold. They may appear simple and even odd but if we take a deeper look, we discover that they are purposeful and even delightful.

Currently, most of my normal activities have seized. Not being able to go out to eat, visit friends or even gather for worship is frustrating but I am being given the gift of rest. Not necessarily physical rest for I find myself just as tired as before. But I am being given rest for my soul. It’s not a gift I readily received. In fact, I ignored or rejected it in various ways. It’s taken more than a month to seize striving and rest in God alone. Deep, honest lamenting and letting the truth of the Psalms wash over my racing mind has been grace to my weary soul. 

I don’t want to minimize the severe suffering many are experiencing but there are also many of us who are simply inconvenienced. If that’s you, receive this forced sabbatical as a gift from the hand of the Father. Rest in him is a gift that allows us to recognize and enjoy the other gifts he gives. It will require slowing down and watching for glimpses of grace especially in the ordinary. As time goes by, I am beginning to see his gifts glisten. I see it at home when my family of six cooks and enjoys a meal together, when we clear the weeds to make room for a vegetable garden or when I step outside to be warmed by the sunlight and refreshed by the breeze whistling through the trees. These are simple gifts that rarely happened in the past or when they did, I rarely appreciated or enjoyed them.

In the midst of uncertain and trying times, look for and receive the gifts from the good hands of the Father. Expect that his deepest graces will appear in your weariness, weakness and helplessness. Rather than reject them, receive them and take delight knowing that in Christ, God is loving you dearly through this time.