Dear All.,
Whether we like it or not, everyone has tough times. Whether you’re
rich or poor, young or old, big or small, weak or strong., we all have
our own share of tough times! I think the difference is on how we
respond during tough times…
Many blame others: “It’s their fault!” Some blame themselves: “It’s
my fault.” Others blame both: “It’s theirs and mine!” While a few may
take a different approach, they say: “Maybe GOD is up to something?”
Well, some of predictions this year is that we maybe heading into a
tougher times! Hmm…
The Bible says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they
have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more
valuable you are than birds!” –Luke 12:24
This is what I believe., sometimes a crisis experience is exactly what
we need to get our attention. Have you ever been in a situation where
you were in over your head? You said, “I feel completely overwhelmed!”
Or, “I am being swallowed..!”
One of Sunday school’s favorite lessons is the story of Jonah. You
know, the famous prophet who was swallowed by a whale for three days
and three nights and then vomited out. His initial complain was that
GOD abandoned and casted him away!
But wait a second, Jonah! Who abandoned who? God didn’t abandon you.
You abandoned HIM! (We need to get the story straight!)
There are times in our lives when we had experienced something very
unpleasant. But later on, we said, “I’m glad that it happened to me!”
Or, “I’m glad I went through everything I needed to get through.
Because it gave me time to think things through! It gave me time to
refocus on the things that matter most!”
I think the sad truth is that not everyone responds to tough times in
their life the way they should. Let me share you a story of a famer
whose name is Joe. One day he got into an accident and then decided
later his injuries were serious enough to take the responsible
trucking company to the court. In court, the trucking company’s fancy
lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. “Didn’t you say, at the scene of
the accident, ‘I’m fine’?,” questioned the lawyer. Joe responded,
“Well I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule
Bessie into the…” “I didn’t ask for any details,” the lawyer
interrupted, “just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene
of the accident, ‘I’m fine’!” Joe replied, “Well I had just got Bessie
into the trailer and I was driving down the road…” The lawyer
interrupted again and said, “Judge, I am trying to establish the fact
that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway
Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after
the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud.
Please tell him to simply answer the question.” By this time the Judge
was fairly interested in the farmer’s story and said to the lawyer,
“I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie.”
Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, “Well as I was saying, I had just
loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her
down the highway when this huge trailer ran the stop sign and smacked
my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was
thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn’t want to move.
However, I could hear old Bessie moaning and groaning! I knew she was
in terrible shape just by her groans! Shortly after the accident a
Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and
groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took out
his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across
the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, “Your
mule was in such a bad shape, sorry I had to shoot her. How are you
feeling?” It was then that I said, “I’m fine!”
Going back to Jonah, here’s the good news: He thought that the whale
was his end., only to realize that it was his salvation! GOD brings
tough times into our lives not only to bring us back to Him… but to
also bring us back to ourselves!
Two things can happen during tough times… either you “doubt” or you
“trust!” It is a choice: tough times or trust times? Don’t allow the
fire of crisis to make you skeptic. Instead, allow it to purify you!
“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in Him.” – Psalm 32:10
Get aLife,
-p.a. <
