William Sangster was a famous Methodist pastor in England. He began his tenure of sixteen years as pastor of Westminster Central Hall in London at the beginning of World War II. He had a powerful ministry to the people of London during the darkest days of the war.
Shortly after the end of the war, he was diagnosed with progressive muscular atrophy. His health worsened until he was basically paralyzed. But his attitude was a powerful witness of faith to everyone around him.
Sangster had shared with several people that he had made four rules for himself when he first found out about his illness:
(1) I will never complain.
(2) I will keep the home bright.
(3) I will count my blessings.
(4) I will try to turn this to gain.
You know, life doesn’t always happen as we dreamed and planned, that’s for sure.
The Heidelberg Catechism was an important confession of faith that was written in 1563. I find comfort in the first question and answer: “What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but that I belong - in body and soul, in life and in death - to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”
During times that we struggle, let’s keep before us the words of the Apostle Paul: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)
May this be our faith and our confidence, even when life doesn’t go as we planned.