Ecclesiastes 9:9-18 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of of vanity; for that IS your portion in life,and in the labor which you perform under the sun.  "Whatever your hand find to do, do it with you rmight; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.  I returned and saw under the sun that; the trace is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong , nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time andchace happen to them all. For man also does not know his time; like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me.  There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.  Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remember that same poor man. Then I said: "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is disposed, and his words are not heard.  Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the sout of the ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good."    

Life is messy. Sometimes cheaters take the gold medal. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.  In a broken world, things just don't always work out the way they are supposed to. Some may question Solomon's words in today's passage.  Throughout Ecclesiastes he appears to slip in and out of a depressed and defeated mind set. While some may choose to skim over this text, I am actually incredibly grateful that God recognizes how unfair our fallen world can be. To the single parent struggling to make ends meet; He understands.  To the child who feels neglected and abused; He is with you.   To the young person who just can't seem to catch a break; He has not abandoned you.  LIFE IS MESSY.. but God has the uncanny ability to transform it all. He brings HOPE to the hopeless.  Meditate on the following promise today knowing that God IS FAITHFUL even when life seems unfair. "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing, you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness....I WILL GIVE THANKS TO YOU FOREVER" Psalm 30:11-12. For it is WITH God ALL things ARE POSSIBLE Matthew 19:26

Father God, guide me today to DO ALL things that will bring GLORY AND HONOR TO You AMEN

I really needed to read this today. Thank you.

Powerful