Challenges

I had a very challenging week this week, and in many ways, became overwhelmed by life. It came out of the blue, all of a sudden on Tuesday morning as I was rushing along to an appointment, all the while, praying for God to help me overcome my obstacles to fully reaching my God-potential, to help me to be better and do more...

Blazing blue lights behind me signalled the beginning of my challenges... What started out as the possibility of an irritating but simple speeding ticket quickly unravelled into the fact that my drivers' license had been suspended, unbeknownst to me, because we had paid our insurance late and they had notified the State that our policy was cancelled or some such series of events... Who knows!

However, the police officer was unnecessarily harsh and as a result, I had to get the car insurance issues resolved, go and get my license re-instated, and hire an attorney to deal with the ridiculous tickets the officer issued...

The thing is, the payment of our car insurance was a task that my husband is responsible for - in my being overwhelmed by how quickly and dramatically things had gone from a quiet day to one of chaos, I blamed him for everything that had happened...

I went from moments of peace in prayer to chaos and feelings of abandonment and surprise... and I failed this test!

Ezekiel 24: 15-27 teaches us that God can call on us, at times, to be used in tremendous moments of chaos to be a sign to others of the difference being a disciple of Jesus makes in us...

Ezekiel 24: 15-18

"The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.

Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners."

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died.

The next morning I did as I had been commanded."

Can you imagine how overwhelming that must have been for Ezekiel - to lose the delight of his life and not give in to grief... Not accept the love and support of family and friends, not show the tremendous loss he felt?



Yet this is what he was called to do - and he did what he was commanded to do!



For me - God gave me an opportunity to be better and do more and show my husband and others faith, strength, charity and gentleness in times of challenge; instead I showed anger, resentment and frustration and missed that opportunity entirely!



It's taken me days to even see it that way! Job, in the midst of incredible testing, covered with boils and sores, ripped of his family, stature and basically all he had, told his wife, "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?"



Psalm 51: 1-4

"Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight..."

Psalm 73: 21-26

"When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,

I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into

glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides

you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever."

Lord, I pray that I will serve you better the next time life throws me a curve ball...

I pray that my reaction and response will be a testament to others

of the power, peace and strength I have in You...