Dear sisters and brothers,

Our lives are filled with remarkable experiences that bring joy and beauty. We can easily list the treasures of this world: sunsets, blooming flowers, the thrill of falling in love, the miracle of a child’s birth, festive birthday cakes, twinkling Christmas lights, the comfort of shade trees, the majesty of the Grand Canyon, the joy of our favorite song, the fresh scent of a new car, cherished friendships, Thanksgiving feasts, and the warmth of holding hands. If we invited others to share their favorites, it would echo the spirit of a Julie Andrews song: “These are a few of my favorite things.”

Yet, alongside these joys, life inevitably brings us disappointments. While we could dwell on that heavy litany, what truly matters is how we move forward, especially when our painful histories linger like chains—as Jacob Marley’s did.

The prophet Jeremiah offers us a blueprint for finding courage amidst grief, illness, abandonment, or failure. Life is filled with promise, but when we encounter our limits or the brokenness of the world, it’s natural for our spirits to rebel. We often feel robbed, questioning God and wrestling with the notion that our suffering seems disproportionate to our faults.