September 14-15 -

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever". Psalm 23 (KJV)

At the height of his illness a friend said to me, “why didn't all of this happen to me years ago? I'm closer to God now than I've ever been!” It's strange, but so many times good comes out of adversity. We spend our lives concentrating on this, that, or the other; worrying about this, that, or the other, and our relationship with God is put on the side-burner. When adversity hits us....well, it's then we are faced with, not only our past and present, but our futures too – what lies ahead? All we know is, we can't face it alone.

Victor Hugo apparently had a similar experience. Hugo was France's most popular literary figure when he was banished to imprisonment by Napoleon 111 of France, - Napoleon had taken great exception to some of Hugo's political views and opinions, and believed that Hugo would never be heard of again. How wrong he was. After several years of isolation, Hugo was heard to exclaim, “Why was I not exiled before!”

It was during this period of his “adversity” - his present situation, that Hugo really looked at, not only his past, but also his future. Hugo was to return to France from exile to be more famous than he'd ever been. During the years of his incarceration Hugo wrote his most successful novels – perhaps the best known is 'Les Misererable.'

If misfortune, disaster, or an illness ever confines you, keep my friend, and Hugo, in mind. Wherever we may be, whatever our situation, we'll never face the future alone.

You and I might be overheard to say, “Why didn't this happen to me sooner!” 

“God on the Mountain” (LIVE) sung by Jason Crabb is today's music. Click on the picture to listen.