Praise, Not Pessimism
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)
On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus reminded His disciples that hardship and disappointment are inevitable: “In this world, you will have trouble” (John 16:33). I wonder, then, why we so often act as if life should be carefree.
Consider the life of Martin Rinkart, a seventeenth-century Lutheran clergyman. He served as archdeacon in his hometown, Eilenburg, during Germany’s Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). As if warfare wasn’t devastating enough, 8,000 people in Eilenburg died in the plague of 1637; some accounts say Rinkart performed up to 50 funerals a day. Famine followed plague, yet the steadfast clergyman did all he could to feed the starving, including his family.
At one point, after begging an enemy general for mercy, Rinkart said to those with him, “Come, my children, we can find no hearing, no mercy with men, let us take refuge with God.”[1]
How brightly the flame of his faith burned in such darkness. During or shortly after the war, he wrote one of Germany’s most beloved hymns, Nun danket alle Gott:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
If Rinkart could cling to God’s faithfulness and maintain a joyful heart in such dire circumstances, certainly I can follow his example. Rinkart’s hymn encourages us to focus on God’s wondrous gifts—love, joy, peace, grace, and guidance. The goal, as Paul reminded us in 2 Corinthians 4:11, is that “the life of Jesus will be evident” in us regardless of our circumstances (NLT).
Rinkart certainly modeled “the life of Jesus”—as did Paul and countless other Christians in centuries past. Instead of allowing pessimism and fear to triumph, may we respond to hardship as they did—thanking God for all He has done and modeling His love to everyone.
Who can you encourage with Rinkart’s story this week?
DIG DEEPER:
Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-18. What fuels Paul’s perseverance in difficulty? What fuels your perseverance when hardships come?
When people fail us, as the enemy general failed Rinkart, what should be our attitude? Consider these Scriptures: Psalm 3:1-4, Psalm 42:9-11, and Psalm 62:1-11.
How has our “bounteous God” sustained you in recent months? Reflect on Psalm 103:1-22, and then write your own hymn of thanksgiving to God.
To read all the lyrics of Rinkart’s hymn, go to http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/o/nowthank.htm
Denise K. Loock
[1] http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Rinckart.htm
Comments
Very inspirational piece.