The Silver Lining
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.
Fidel Trujillo did not want to leave the bar in Immokalee, Florida when Sally Hampton, 64, placed her hand on Trujillo’s shoulder to lead him out. Trujillo attacked Sally hitting her in the head with a beer bottle and then kicked her in the head and in her body as she was falling. Trujillo has been convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and given a 12 ½-year prison sentence.
It has been said that even the darkest cloud has a silver lining. But how could being battered with a beer bottle and kicked in the head and body have a silver lining? When doctors examined Sally and performed the necessary tests, they found that she had a brain tumor that could have taken her life. The brain tumor has been removed, and she has recovered completely from the attack and the surgery.
Corrie Ten Boom complained to her sister when her sister insisted that they thank God for the fleas that were in their barracks while incarcerated in a Nazi concentration camp. How could she thank God for fleas? However, her sister was right, and there was a silver lining. The guards that harassed some in other barracks never bothered them because of … the fleas!
As Christians, we know that God does promise “…that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).” Under the dark clouds of life’s problems, we can rejoice in God’s promises. Through faith, we know that He will somehow bring about good from the bad. If not on earth, then in Heaven, the good will be seen.
Under the darkest clouds, we can rejoice and thank God that we have a Savior. We can rejoice and thank God that He loved us so much that His only Son suffered and died for us on the cross. We can rejoice and thank God that we are not alone but that He has sent the “comforter”, the Holy Spirit, Who resides in every believer. We can rejoice and thank God that God knows what we are going through and will walk with us through it. We can rejoice and thank God that He will give us the strength necessary to sustain us through the darkest days. We can rejoice and thank God that we can say with the apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).”
The next time a dark cloud threatens to overwhelm you…look for the silver lining. It is there somewhere. Ask God to help you see it.
(Good from the bad.)