Ya Think?

We've had some intense weeks lately around here.




They are normally pretty full anyway, with a pastor's job being "on call" 24/7 and Bunny's piano teaching keeping her hopping.

But throw in her mother's illness and it really ratcheted up the pressure.

Bunny's been up to Macon twice in the last month, camping out in the hospital and doing whatever it took to get her mother well. Her Mom was able to leave the hospital at the end of last week and was placed in a nursing home for a rehab stay. Then Saturday morning, when Bunny went to surprise her with a visit - the surprise was that Dot was very ill and had to be sent to the ER, into ICU, and back into the hospital again.

Just this morning, news from Macon had Bunny in tears at 8:30 AM and thanking God after talking to her Mom on the phone at 11 AM.

Pressure? Yeah, you could say that. And yet, as I tried to take today as the gift that it is from God, I read this.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.
James 1:2-6 (MSG)

What I want "out in the open" is that I rely on God. Yes, I have some experience as a disciples after 35 years of following Jesus. And it is true that I have gained some insight as a pastor in helping others through their trials.

But I'm a human being. There are times when I want life to be easy. My preference would be for everyone to be healthy, money to never be an issue, and everything in every area of my life to be incredibly blessed.

So the idea of not trying to get out of anything prematurely is not natural. It's like running into the wind, or swimming against the current. And yet that "resistance training" is exactly what develops a faith that will last.