We may go through trials we have never seen before.

But there are many who have suffered national calamities throughout history beyond our imagination.

Such was the case during the Thirty Years War in Europe from 1618-1648.

As if war and bloodshed were not bad enough, the Plague followed by famine claimed millions of lives.

It was during that time in Eilenberg, Germany that a Lutheran minister named Martin Rinkart became the only minister left in the town.

All the others either died or ran away.

In its worst conditions, Martin was conducting 40-50 burials per day.

But it was in the midst of all of that death and suffering that Pastor Rinkart wrote the joyous hymn “Now Thank We All Our God.”

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;

Who keeps us in His grace, and guides us when perplexed;

And guards us through all ills in this world, till the next!

People have marveled at this testimony of strength and faith in the Lord in the very face of death and suffering.

If Martin Rinkart could have such a heart of gratitude toward God in times like that, then why can’t we?

Well, we can!

Living with an attitude of gratitude toward God can only come from a life that has been convinced of the absolute reality of God.

Confidence in God comes when a person has experienced God in their life.

Experiencing God begins with a relationship when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is invited to come into a person’s life by faith.

I am thankful that in times of calamity, God will always raise up a Joseph, a Moses, a Mother Theresa, or a Martin Rinkart who will help all of us to be strong and be of good courage in the face of adversity.

Next Week: Passover 2020

Dan Williams is the senior adult pastor at Lexington Baptist Church.