1384) In my writing class, I give my students daily journal prompts. They can be things like, you find an unexpected shoebox in your closet, what does it contain? To something as simple as, if you had any three gifts, what would they be? The students’ responses to these vary a lot and it’s fun to read what they create. Occasionally, we’ll play, “Stump the Student; Test the Teacher” and they’ll have to give me a journal prompt to answer.

If the kids were to ask me to describe the three gifts I would like to have, my list would have fallen short of what Jeremiah 31:25 tells us God gives. He says God gives rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.

Rest is so important. Without it, we can’t function to our fullest capacity. Joy is a gift that exists because we know what sorrow is. It tells us, that no matter what difficult thing(s) has happened, God will use it for good.

These two gifts bring me faith and hope. Faith that God will give me rest and I have hope because despite how weary I am (in all aspects of my life) and how full of sorrow my heart is, God will provide me with exactly what I need.

We cannot afford these gifts, and yet, God provides them.