During this difficult time that we are living through I often think of those who went through great hardship in the past. I reason that if they made it through, so can we. More importantly I am emboldened by the fact that they were sustained by God through faith. So, if we trust in God, we will be able to endure with steadfast trust in God.

One of the stories that I have heard along the way is that of Martin Rinkert. Pastor Martin was a pastor in the Lutheran Church in his native city of Eilenberg, Germany during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). With his congregation he went through some of the most devastating of human sufferings. Rinkert was 31 years old when he began his work around the beginning of this long war. He spent the remaining 32 years of his life faithfully ministering to these needy people.

During this time Germany was reduced to an indescribable state of misery. The German population dwindled form 16 million to 6 million. Because Eilenberg was a walled city, it became an over-crowded refuge for fugitives from far and near. Throughout these war years several waves of deadly diseases and famines swept through the city, as various armies marched through the tow. The plague of 1637 was particularly severe. At its height Rinkert was the only minister remaining to care for the sick and dying.

I think of how the plague was so much more awful than the pandemic and in still, rather dark ages there was so little understanding or hope of overcoming it. Yet Pastor Rinkert was able to maintain his trust and thanks in God. He even wrote a beloved hymn of thanks, one we join often on Thanksgiving. In the midst of his context, Pastor Rinkert wrote, “Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things have done, in whom this world rejoices; Who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”

Let us pray. Gracious God, help us to trust in you and realize that we have so much for which we can be thankful. Be with us and strengthen us as we go through our trials, and especially comfort and support those who are already suffering in so many ways. Amen.

READINGS FOR THE DAY:

2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16, Psalm 89:1-29, Romans 4:13-18, Mt. 1:16-24