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Isaiah 61:1-3

…to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning…
Isaiah 61:3a

Reflect

For many years, my family had a reunion at my stepfather’s house every year on the weekend of the 4th of July. These get-togethers took on even more importance during the trials and tribulations of the COVID era, so we started to take stock even more of the successes of our group than we had previously. One one such gathering, we put together an informal list of the victories of our younger generation, and these our success stories:

• One graduated from college with his master’s degree – and was starting his second master’s in the fall.
• Another graduated from high school (and later got into his dream school that January).
• Two had two-year-old toddlers who are both sweet and smart. One of them also had a second baby who seems be poised to be an NFL linebacker. He’s huge!
• Another was continuing to build her hair salon client list, which was largely wiped out when she was quarantined with COVID-19. (She has since left that business to become a stay-at-home mom!)
• One started a new job with an organization that uses horses as part of a rehab program for disabled veterans.
• Two others were in college and are on track to graduate on time. One of them has hopes to eventually enter the armed forces as a pilot. (He’s getting ever closer to that goal!)
• And one of the youngest was a leader on her high school cheerleading team and was near the top of her high school class.

This is just a sampling (because there were so many good news stories I couldn’t remember them all). And yes, I have a big family. But I’m sure if you took stock of your family, you might find similar stories of victory that might have been overlooked amidst the turmoil of COVID, overseas wars, supply chain issues, high gas prices and inflation.

The fact is that God doesn’t stop working just we are beset with hard times and difficulties. In fact, He uses everything – even the garbage of our lives – to make things that are infinitely more beautiful than we could imagine.

Today, think about what’s happened in your life in the last 12 months. What victories have you experienced that might have flown under the radar – maybe even yours? Do a brief life inventory and take a little time to thank and praise the Lord for being faithful despite the messes and frustrations.

Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.