How Do I Look to You Now?

This is me, circa 1981, the era of big hair. Fresh after the breakup of my first boyfriend, I thought I was the ugliest thing that walked the earth, and as big as a barn. Isn't that amazing? I would love to be this big and ugly now!
This weekend is the annual homecoming weekend at the university where I teach. It has been so interesting to watch people recognize someone walking across the campus, call out to them, and then freeze as they wonder if they made a mistake. "Can that really be Herman? He doesn't have much hair left now." "Wow-- Rachel has come through her chemo pretty well." And the inevitable, "Oh my word! I didn't even recognize him, he's changed so much!"
I sat back in church this morning watching so many members of the honored classes greeting one another. There was a lot of backslapping and hugs. Talk was a little louder, what with hearing loss creeping in on the older ones. I recognized a fair number of people there, since I've lived in this community for about 19 years. Some of the returning alums were men I had once had crushes on. They didn't look particularly awe inspiring--not a one of them. A couple of them looked rather hagard and showed up without their wives. Maybe they're not together any more.
Have you noticed that some formerly homely ones actually look much better with maturity, and some of the beautiful people don't look very good with time? I noticed one man this morning, who not only looks better, but bears himself with the kindliest bearing and the warmest reserve. He was clearly admired by many who observed him.
I sat back and took it all in. I'm not the same as I was in 1981 either. The speaker asked us a good question: "What have circumstances done to you and what has God done in you?"
In response to this question, I have few concrete answers, but several unshakable thoughts:
1. God is absolutely trustworthy. That doesn't mean that things always turn out how you want, or that God exercises that Deus et machina (God in a box), sugar-daddy giving prerogative of His. It just means that He is a sure thing. That He can be leaned on in every single circumstance that life brings. That He will never abandon anyone.
2. God will love me no matter what I do. As my former pastor used to say, "God can love me no less for what I've done or who I am. He will love me no more when I'm not doing the right things than when I am making the effort to do what is right."
3. God has the power to create something out of nothing and do the most miraculous things on our behalf. Of this, I have no doubt. I do not always understand why He permits some things to come to me that are painful, or why at other times He brings incredible, unexpected miracles to me. But He is able, and that is a wonderful, wonderful truth to know.
4. I have nothing to be afraid of in life. The Bible says, "In this world you will have trouble. But be of good cheer--I have overcome the world." That is mighty comforting, even when everything feels as though it is falling in, or that aspects of life create more pain than pleasure in every day life. I still have nothing to be afraid of.

So what have circumstances done to you? And what has God done in your life? It is not a bad idea to reflect on this often.