January 2023

Happy new year!

As we usher in 2023, I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and holiday season. 2022 was quite a year! For many, work, school, and travel returned to a pre-pandemic pace, and yet, I think we can all agree most things are far from ideal.

A few days ago, I came across this handwritten note in one of Tom’s journals: 
   
“God allows us to live in this day, this minute with an ever-present sense of the future reality that this moment is inescapably linked to God’s plan – His future rest for me!”

Although I think Tom, especially in his last few years, may have focused on the “rest” part of the sentence, what jumped out to me is “God’s plan.” Every minute, every thought, decision, action, and reaction are linked to God’s plan. 

As overwhelming as this may be, it is also hugely comforting. 

Do you mean that all this mess, brokenness, greed, and disease are part of God’s plan?
 
Yep. “God either causes or allows all things for your good and His glory” (Tom Shrader)

Everything. 

Even pain.

Even suffering.

Even when we don’t get our way.

Even unemployment, inflation, and economic downturns.

Even disease. 

Even death. 

Now, wait, don’t get me wrong. God’s perfect world had none of this. God’s perfect world was without sin, disease, and death. But then, in Genesis 3, the apple was eaten, sin entered the world, and we now live in a fallen world. Here is a powerful video lesson from Tom in 2013 on depravity and sin.  

Recently I’ve noticed a shift. It seems to me that more and more, we (or maybe just me) have become so focused on what we want or “need”, that we approach our Holy, Almighty God expecting Him to come into OUR story and make it just the way we think it should be.

God doesn’t want you happy, He wants you obedient. (Tom Shrader) 

During Tom’s last few years on earth, I watched him struggle with incredible pain, multiple surgeries, debilitation, and loss. Through it all, Tom never asked God to take the pain away, but rather to use it to draw him closer. Tom knew that everything, even pain, disease, and death, was part of God’s plan. And with each iteration, Tom focused on God and His promises, confident his suffering was minor compared to eternity with Jesus. 

Your pain can only last a lifetime. (Tom Shrader)

January 13 will mark Tom’s fourth year with Jesus. It is crazy to think that Tom has been gone so long.  Yet, almost daily, I am reminded how God continues to use Tom’s teaching to draw people to Him.

Tom’s life on earth was certainly a testament to God’s perfect plan.

As we look to 2023, let’s turn things around. Let’s get our focus off ourselves and onto Him - the Creator of the Universe, the one and only true God. 

Let’s remember that we are part of God’s plan, instead of trying to pray God into OUR plan.

Let’s replace our man-centered thoughts with God’s truth.

Let’s worship Him by bringing glory to Him in all we do.