To God Be the Glory

Here we are again. Another week has come to an end, and as I sit and think about all that has taken place, one familiar expression keeps coming to mind: To God be the glory!

Have you ever stopped at the end of a busy week and thought about everything you experienced? Not just the things you accomplished, but the things God brought you through?

Some of us have traveled near and far. We've been on airplanes, buses, highways, and unfamiliar roads. We've packed our bags, hugged loved ones goodbye, and prayed for safe journeys. And now, many of us are back home, settling into our familiar surroundings, perhaps not even realizing how many opportunities God had to protect us along the way.

Others have experienced a very different kind of journey this week. Perhaps it involved a doctor's appointment, an unexpected diagnosis, a medical procedure, or sitting beside someone you love who is struggling with their health. Some are celebrating answered prayers, while others are still waiting, still hoping, and still trusting God for what comes next.

Then there are those quiet battles that nobody else knows about. The worries that followed us into the night, the disappointments we kept to ourselves, and those moments when we simply had to whisper, "Lord, help me get through today." 

Yet here we are. Not necessarily because everything worked out the way we wanted, but because God's mercy continues to meet us where we are. I am reminded of something Samuel did in 1 Samuel 7:12. After God delivered the Israelites from their enemies, Samuel took a stone and set it up as a reminder of what God had done. He called it Ebenezer and declared, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." In other words, "Up to this point, God has been our help."

I love that thought. Samuel didn't want the people to forget how God had brought them through. That stone would remind them of His faithfulness whenever they looked back. Perhaps we need our own Ebenezer moments. Not necessarily a physical stone, but a moment when we stop and recognize how God has helped us along the way.

Think about it. How many situations this week could have turned out differently? How many times did we find strength when we thought we had none left? How many blessings did we receive without even recognizing them?

A safe arrival. A reassuring phone call. A meal on the table. A little strength when we thought we had none left. A friend who checked on us. Another morning to open our eyes. These may seem like ordinary things, but they are blessings worth acknowledging. Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that it is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. His compassions do not fail; they are new every morning. Isn't that comforting? We don't have to depend on yesterday's mercy for tomorrow's challenges. God meets us each day with fresh compassion.

So, as we prepare to welcome the Sabbath, perhaps we can set aside the unfinished tasks, the frustrations, and the concerns that have occupied so much of our thoughts this week. Not because those concerns have disappeared, but because gratitude reminds us that they are not the whole story.

Before this day ends, take a moment to look back over your week. Think about where you've been, what you've faced, and the blessings you may have overlooked. Maybe your week wasn't perfect. Maybe you're still waiting for an answer to prayer. Maybe you're carrying something into next week that you had hoped to leave behind.

But even in the waiting, we can remember the God who has helped us this far. And like Samuel, we can pause and declare: "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." To God be the glory, for His mercy endureth forever!

Pearl's Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as another week comes to an end, we pause to say thank You. Thank You for the journeys completed safely, the prayers answered, and the blessings we sometimes take for granted. We remember those who are sick, those who are still waiting for healing, and those who are carrying burdens we cannot see. Surround them with Your comfort, strength, and peace. Forgive us for the times we have been too busy to recognize Your goodness. As we enter Your Sabbath rest, quiet our minds, renew our spirits, and fill our hearts with gratitude. May we never forget that Your mercy endures forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I am the Vessel, God is the Grace.