Working all things together for good
A little while ago my brother-in-law, Trevor, loved his job as a truck driver. But out of the blue, he got seizures and stroke-like symptoms. It took a long time before doctors could diagnose his condition as functional neurological disorder. As a result of this condition, he’s lost his job and will most likely be unable to work a normal job again. He can do some work, but it is very limited in nature. Some days he feels good, while others he doesn’t. This is your classic ‘life’s turned upside down’ story. For those of you who don’t know Trevor, you may remember reading about it in the prayer news.
What has transpired from that moment until now is an incredible act of God’s grace and loving-kindness. As you can imagine, the initial aftermath of such a diagnosis resulted in natural soul-searching times, prayers, and dependence on God. I’m sure there were some dark times for the whole family. But what next in the story? What does the future look like for Trevor and his family?
Well, the side story here is that for a long time, I’ve been a hobby beekeeper, and for a lot of that time, the bees have taken a back seat due to other priorities in life. One day, I asked Trevor to consider getting into bees because it’s the type of job he can do a bit of work when he’s feeling up to it (even if it’s only 30 minutes). Long story short, with so many providences from God working all things together for good, Trevor and I are full-on into the bees now, along with Toby Sunderland. We all love doing the bees!
While material needs are important, they are not our most pressing urgent needs. Our eternal hope is the most essential thing in this life. In this case, as God has often done, he’s used this event to bring about a remarkable outcome for Trevor. The reality was that truck driving was wrecking his body, and it also meant a lot of time away from his family. The bees are way better in all respects, but the most blessed thing is that it’s evident to everyone that Trevor is a new man. I’ve known him for over 30 years, and there is a peace and joy about him like never before.
So next time you’re getting your coffee from The Park on a Sunday morning, look at the poster about Rush Creek Farm honey and get some! Honey is available for purchase from the church office. The profits go to the New Life Orphanage in Myanmar.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”
Pete Humphreys