Stuff happens sometimes that frustrate us and we wonder why. The thing is when something bad happens it is sort of a test to learn to stay calm, cool and collected. Seems like in the past 3 months I have had a few things that threw me into a tizzy if I let them. Sometimes I have not stayed cool. The latest was yesterday when I misplaced my car keys at a local movie theater. I was so proud of myself. Instead of losing control I sort of took a few steps back, so to speak, and remained calm and started looking. Some kind people who were at theater waiting for their class of school children to get out of theater helped me.Another gentleman let me use his cell phone since mine was locked in the car and a third person helped me retrace steps. I laughed and said, this probably happened for a reason to allow me another test to stay calm and beyond that maybe to meet those people. Who knows? Yes there are skeptics out there that say, "Sure Becky, God caused you to lose your keys, right!"
God can use all things to teach us a spiritual life lesson. Sometimes if we do not learn anything the lessons keep coming til we learn to praise God no matter what. Like in story of Job, where he said, "Even though he slay me yet will I trust him."(Job 13:15). Now granted Job was dealing with a little bit more drastic stuff but the verse can still apply. Why do people get mad at God? Instead we should try to get in habit of saying " Lord thank you for allowing this situation so I could learn to trust you more. " Maybe I was supposed to help the people I talked to some way. Who knows? God does.
Life will bring all sorts of trials our way. It is how we deal with them that counts. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 says'".. None of you should turn back because of these persecutions. You yourselves know that such persecutions are part of God's will for us." In Acts 14:22 it goes on ... "We all have to experience many hardships," they said, "before we enter the kingdom of God." James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test he will receive the victors' crown, the life that is promised by God to those who love him." Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says " Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you... to teach you that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Well the story had a happy ending as even though I had called a my insurance company who was sending someone to unlock car in hopes they were laying on car seat, a young girl coming out of bathroom says "Hey I found these keys hanging on the hook in the stall of the bathroom." How funny is that? Of all places I did not look. In the meantime though I had spoken of things of the Lord in conversation with the people I was visiting with in the lobby, had stayed cool while looking, and had shared about the Moms in Touch prayer ministry with these two school employees. So I see it as God providing an 'open door' for me to spread the news about praying for children and schools again. Did he lose my keys? No he did not but through my patience and other things the Lord was able to help this situation be turned into an opportunity for sharing for which I am thankful for.
PRAYER: Dear Lord we say thank you to you for allowing situations in our lives whereby we might grow and learn to be a stronger Christian. We know we can not grow unless sometimes we deal with things. Give us the ability when we face problems in life to turn to you and trust you to get us through them. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Great encouragement! Thanks, Becky!
ReplyDelete