Fully showered. Perfectly healthy kids. Swimming in a clear-blue refreshing pool. Spending quality Summer Break time
with my family.
That is what my day would
have looked like had it gone according to my
plan.
But God had sweeter, more inconvenient plans in store for us
today.
Earlier this morning, as I was talking with the Lord about
life, I had asked him to make my heart tender; softer to the things that matter
to Him. Asking Him to make me more like His Son, Jesus.
And He said yes...inconveniently.
This morning we woke up with grand plans to quickly do some
grocery shopping so that we could be off to the pool for the afternoon with
some friends. However, our plans soon got beautifully derailed by a sharp knock on
our front door.
Our neighbor was at our door with panicked eyes. “Can you
please take my husband to the hospital? He is in great pain!” Our neighbor’s
husband recently had abdominal surgery, and is now experiencing severe pain and
can’t move. Quickly, Corey grabs the keys and off they went.
As this was occurring, my youngest daughter slowly crawls
up into my lap with tears in her eyes and softly whimpers, “Mommy, my ear
hurts.” All hope of going swimming just slipped away. I begin tending to her
ailment. I also share with her about what is happening with our neighbor and why Daddy ran out of the house so fast. Right
then and there, as my daughter is in pain of her own, she asks God to heal our
neighbor. Tears of sweet joy welling up in my eyes. I watch as God brings forth the beauty that He has placed within her. Compassion. The gift of seeing beyond herself to others. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that
we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
My heart stirred by this beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
Then only moments later, our power goes out…in the middle of my shower. Seriously...is someone messing with my day?!{Yes, Someone is.} With shampoo in my hair, and no water, I stand vulnerable. Uncomfortable. The stage is being set perfectly for a complaining and grumbling heart to arise. And yet I am surprised at my response: a smile.
In this moment I am thankful?! What?! Yes, thankful that I don’t have the “perfect” life; that things do go wrong. That I am not comfortable all the time. That I don't always get my way. So much of this life is trying to make life easier. But easier, isn’t always better, is it? Easier often robs us of necessary character-building that the Lord intends to produce in our lives. And I want that - good character. As I stand there smiling, recognizing that I am quite uncomfortable, but strangely happy, I begin thanking God for this grace; this grace of being trained to receive the hard as well as the good from Him. “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?” Job 2:10. This training of recognizing and believing that God does not withhold good from His children. That these momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs it all. Today it is only an inconvenienced shower, but tomorrow it might be my husband requiring immediate medical attention.
In this moment I am thankful?! What?! Yes, thankful that I don’t have the “perfect” life; that things do go wrong. That I am not comfortable all the time. That I don't always get my way. So much of this life is trying to make life easier. But easier, isn’t always better, is it? Easier often robs us of necessary character-building that the Lord intends to produce in our lives. And I want that - good character. As I stand there smiling, recognizing that I am quite uncomfortable, but strangely happy, I begin thanking God for this grace; this grace of being trained to receive the hard as well as the good from Him. “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?” Job 2:10. This training of recognizing and believing that God does not withhold good from His children. That these momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs it all. Today it is only an inconvenienced shower, but tomorrow it might be my husband requiring immediate medical attention.
As I consider Jesus' life, His days were often interrupted or inconvenienced, yet He embraced each and every situation with humility and grace. Every inconvenience became an opportunity for the Gospel to be taught or displayed. I want my life to be spent like that.
God’s plan for our family today was far better than that which we had for ourselves. It proved more satisfying than any simple poolside pleasure ever could. All in one morning, our God managed to reveal and encourage hearts, increase faith, provide selfless love and care all by stripping away luxuries, creating inconvenience, and allowing pain. Only a God of great wisdom and love could do all this. O Lord, indeed “[Your] ways are higher than [my] ways and [Your] thoughts than [my] thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
God’s plan for our family today was far better than that which we had for ourselves. It proved more satisfying than any simple poolside pleasure ever could. All in one morning, our God managed to reveal and encourage hearts, increase faith, provide selfless love and care all by stripping away luxuries, creating inconvenience, and allowing pain. Only a God of great wisdom and love could do all this. O Lord, indeed “[Your] ways are higher than [my] ways and [Your] thoughts than [my] thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
And I find myself still smiling because of this inconveniencing, yet all-satisfying, grace of God.
Father God, thank You for answering my prayer. Thank You that Your provision is promised, but Your ways are often a surprise. Lord, You do all things well. Perhaps we'll get to the pool tomorrow? :)
*How might the Lord inconvenience you today for your joy and His glory?
No comments:
Post a Comment