Here is a little something for you to think about this
Thanksgiving. We have all heard that we
should be thankful for our trials and problems.
But when you are faced with an astronomical issue in your life it can be
easy to reject. It is hard to see
anything good, anything worthwhile in the worst times of our lives. I want you to think about Squanto.
Squanto has an astounding story. Squanto is certainly an example of someone
who endured misery. He was kidnapped,
enslaved, taken far from everything he knew, far from his home and family. When he did manage to return to his family
and tribe, they were gone. Completely
wiped out by diseases brought by the very people who had kidnapped him. Squanto had endured misery. But to what end? Squanto spoke English. Squanto brought life back to a dying
settlement. He brought education of how
to survive, he brought food, to a group of people that were starving and slowly
dying out. He saved the pilgrims – one of
the first settlements of our nation. Squanto
will never be ‘just some indian’, he represents blessing from evil, forgiveness,
and compassion. He is historic proof
that we can never guess God’s plan in our lives.
God used this one native, put him through true life horrors,
and enabled him to save a nation. He
enabled Squanto to give life to this community that trusted in God, he enabled
them to have a bountiful harvest, he enabled them to truly feel what true thanksgiving
is. Can you imagine how much they must
have thanked God for sending someone to them who spoke their own language and
could teach them how to survive in this new and strange land? Can you imagine the amount of forgiveness it
took for Squanto to help them? Can you
stretch your mind to comprehend how God worked in the lives of Squanto and the
pilgrims? Can you stretch your mind to
comprehend how God works in your life?
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD!
Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into
problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to
disappointment. For we know how dearly
God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with
his love.
