Last April I spoke to a group of women in Florida about Jesus Christ being “Lord of All Seasons.” The topic was their choice, and I found myself, as usual, tested along the very lines on which I was going to speak. During the previous week, Lars and I had learned that all twenty-eight of the nice new (and very expensive) windows we had installed in our new house leaked. I was anxious about many things—my mother’s health (she has had more falls lately, forgets things more), my coming grandchild, a new word processor, which I wasn’t sure I was smart enough to learn to use, and (alas!) a tooth which seemed about to fall out. What a list of varied things to worry about.
But Jesus died for me! He’s risen and coming again! He has given me an inheritance that nothing can “destroy or spoil or wither” (1 Pt 1:4) and a kingdom which is unshakable (Heb 12:28). That’s the gospel. Has it anything to do with leaking windows, computers, grandchildren, teeth? Well, I told myself, if it hasn’t you’ve got no business getting up in front of those women and opening your mouth at all. If I can’t give thanks, trust, and worship the Lord in every “season,” in the face of any set of facts which may touch my life, I am not really a believer. It is here, in my corner (or your corner) of God’s earth that I am assigned my lessons in the School of Faith.
This excerpt was originally published in the July/August 1984 Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter.