car trouble, or is it something more?
Reading Romans (5:3-5) and James (1:2-4) are not really happy verses. After all they pretty much guarantee we will have troubles. There is a good side, and that is these verses also promise that these troubles will develop us in promising ways. I am glad sort of. I mean I like these truths when I am not in trouble for then I think, “Hey there is a purpose and fruitful outcome to be gained if things go south.” However, while in the trouble itself all I can think about is, “How and when do I get out of this.”
I am looking for an exit now with regard to one of our cars. Ever since we returned from our summer travels it is like a vacuum on our financial resources. A battery, work on the A/C, and maybe now a bad transmission. Ugh. I want out.
I can’t say what I am learning, except that I have a choice. One choice is to fret, stew, complain, grow anxious, worry, and maybe even panic. The other is to remember the Lord may well be in all this and therefore I don’t want to miss what He is doing. I can choose to move into the mystery of what lies ahead with confidence that my God is Jehovah Jira and He is faithful.
“Father, give me the faith to make the later choice.”
Well said Dennis and a great reminder to boot. “Moving into the mystery” resonated well me and I hope that I can embrace that action/mindset when the opporutnity presents itself. Over the past couple of months, I have to confess that fretting, complaining and anxiety have been my companions of choice. Silly me.
Good thoughts. There is always a temptation to want to escape out from the line of suffering. But God does great things in our lives as we continue to submit to Him and persevere. The fruit comes as we remain and let God bring us through so that we will reap the harvest of greater character on the other side.
I am re-reading a great book on the Pilgrim psalms right now. It is A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. It has a lot of good thoughts like you expressed. God has been using it to meet me right where I am at.
Miss you. May God bring you through this season and may you reap a harvest on the other side.
Well said my friend.
Good word Gary.