That Wasn’t Supposed To Happen
Everyone faces the challenge of messed up, mixed-up, situations where things don’t turn out like they are supposed to.
The question is: what do you do?
In my chocolate-on-the-car-and-pants incident, I mopped up as best as I could, then made a joke out of it in my workshop. “Look at me! I’m teaching a class and I’m a klutz!”
The second situation, however, has caused me a tremendous amount of angst. Here’s where it gets real. This isn’t something I can wipe off with a joke. Tears, prayers, more tears, and still no relief.
My friends advised me to quit my job and get a different job. Sounds logical. But I wanted to go deeper. Was I supposed to learn from this? If so, what? I didn’t want to miss anything God was doing. I had to examine my heart to see if I refused to submit to my boss’s demands. Was I working as diligently as I could? Were the job demands reasonable?
Three months later I’m still no closer to resolution. It would be nice if I could receive an answer carved into two stone tablets like Moses coming down the mountain with the Ten Commandments. Somebody, please tell me what to do!
Should I quit my job and find another? Go back and suck it up buttercup? Everyone has a different answer.
What I’ve found is when I’m in a situation that is so difficult and so painful I can hardly breathe, that’s when I press in closer to God. I read in James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (NIV)
Look at me – I’m smiling through my tears as I persevere, waiting for direction.
