As the LORD lives,

who has redeemed my soul

    out of every adversity...

            1 Kings 1. 29

(God does not promise

that things will be easy,

or always perfect,

comfortable and successful.

But God redeems,

even the hard stuff,

even the odd-shaped pieces

      we do not understand,

far beyond our lifetimes.

Others recognize

          Jesus in our hearts

by how we respond

     to both the favorable

     and adverse.

We never know

         who is listening,

         who is watching,

to see if Jesus really

              makes a difference,

if Jesus has changed

              our hearts.)

O LORD,

Thank You for what

         being with You

         does in us.

Help us recognize

      Your Presence with us,

help others to see

   the difference You make,

help us to know

             You redeem,

not just someday,

but backwards and forwards

          and even in the now.

We just can't see it

    from where we are standing.

But we can trust You in this.