Monday, July 23, 2012

Put me in, coach! I'm ready!

Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:3-6

Meg wanted to watch “Facing the Giants” last night because of the whole “praying for rain” metaphor.  While I like it as well, I latched onto the second verse of “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns.  (If you haven’t heard it yet, go to You Tube and listen before continuing, just because it’s a good song.)  It’s a summary of David’s fight against Goliath; fitting for a movie where a football team is defeated by a field goal kicked by a kid named David.

Anyway, it got me thinking.  I have been struggling the last couple months with the teacher call process.  I feel that I have worked so hard and that I deserve to get a call.  It is frustrating that it seems everyone else is getting to go out and serve God, but not me.  It's like I'm a soldier who just finished training and all I get to do is stand on the pier and watch as my fellow warriors, orders in hand, board the troopship and head out to battle.  And here I stand, ready to go, practically screaming at God: "HERE I AM! SEND ME!"  I keep hearing an echo of part of the refrain of "Unbreakable" by Fireflight, repeating it almost as if it is a prayer.  "I want to go there; this time I'm not scared!"  The whole song is quite inspirational, I think, but that part is particularly powerful to me.

While watching "Facing the Giants" I was reminded of an Israelite shepherd.  The night before I had this urge to read about Joseph.  In the case of Joseph, he was humbled because he claimed to have the ability to read dreams and be a great manager.  It was only later, when he had nothing, that God called for him.  With David, he immediately declared God to be the ultimate power, specifically the one that would deliver his enemy to him.  Both men acknowledged God as their source of strength; the source of everything.

That is something I have been struggling with.

I keep saying that it was "I" who did all the work.  Was it really?  The most important lessons I have learned were not ones I created, but rather life-changing events that God blessed me with.  Going back to the soldier analogy, God has been the Drill Sergeant, providing me with challenges to "reshape" me into what He needs.  A song by Family Force 5 emphasizes that, though their slant is looking at God as the potter.  "Crush me, tear me, break me, mold me, make me what you want me to be."  But I still wonder why things have been so difficult.  He said that all things work out for those of us who love Him (Romans 8:28).  At the same time, though, He has given us the ability to do more than just conquer our trials (Romans 8:37).  The struggle, then, is in persevering to the end.

And that lead me to the section at the top of the post.  "Suffering produces perseverance."  If things were not hard, would anyone ever develop a "stick-to-it" attitude?  And don't we consider that attitude, that work ethic, to be a characteristic that is to be admired?  Especially because hard-workers tend to be very optimistic and hopeful about the future.  How can they be when life is so hard?  Because they know that God does not disappoint.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."  This isn't about whether I get my "dream job" or not.  This is about God giving me an opportunity to let everyone know how awesome He is.  While I was powerless, worthless, without hope, unable to do anything, He DID.  I must put aside my fear of giving Him the glory.  I should humble myself as His willing servant.

O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your, the son of Your maidservant; You have freed me from my chains.  (Psalm 116:16)

He has bought me, given me new life, given me gifts and a purpose and a mission.  Why then should I doubt that He will continue to provide for me?

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