First Word

Grateful.

That's a word that you hear often. We talk about it a lot, especially in church. We don't always appreciate the weight that word carries; at least I don't. In this issue of Redefined, you'll read stories about being grateful in circumstances that span both cultures and continents. In my own life, I've often struggled with what it meant to be truly grateful. In American culture, we're crushed by the weight of materialism. We're always looking for the next big thing; whether that be an achievement or a purchase, we live between the breaths of perceived success. The thing that challenges me most is the trap of comparison. "Why do they have that house?" "How did they become that successful?" "Why are they able to have that many children?" You see, it's a deep trap. If we spend all our time looking at what others have, then we'll lose sight of what we do have and the workd God has done. Time and again, God has brought me back to a truth that is prevalent in the stories you're about to read. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made plain in your weakness. Reading through these stories of personal struggle put this truth sharply into focus: as writers shared about personal struggle and loss, I could not help but see God's immense strength behind their words. He is at work in all of our lives, no matter what we have, where we are, or our stage of life. His purpose for us is independent of those things. Through it all, there is one consistent thread: God's faithfulness. You'll read several stories of gratitude in this issue of Redefined. In each one, the writer shares something significant from their life that inspired gratitude. I hope as you read these stories, you'll see that life is filled with so much for which we can be grateful. We're constantly surrounded by a tapestry of stories that God is weaving together, faithfully working our circumstances together for good. You see, being grateful isn't about the things we have. It's about recognizing that we have what we need. And so, I challenge you, while you read, remember what you have, and don't take anything for granted. Above all, know that God offers us the greatest gift that we could ever deserve: forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive.