A DAY WITHOUT

The last week has been one of very dramatic emotional valleys for my family. We have several projects going that have the potential of bringing about major changes for the better to our lives. But as with most of our experiences it is a yo-yo effect. One moment we think we can see the conclusion lying just around some reachable corner, the next it lingers out of reach.

And like a lot of people who try to walk by faith we get into the mood of wishing something, just anything would end up being easy. That is being human, but for the most part it just isn’t he way life as a believer transpires. Some might preach that faith, real unbending trust without any doubt brings such experience, but so far I haven’t found it to be true in the lives of the people I have known who have trust God.

In part the question does come to mind how come it never can be easy. Why can’t there be at least one day without that burden of anxiety and heaviness having to be worn like some millstone that is glued to the body?

What is a reality though no matter how unappealing is that trusting God truly happens during trials and not blessings. That may not be a popular answer, but it is a reality that we have to understand in terms of how the Lord in his loving wisdom is allowing us to grow in our faith by the means that works best. Along the way there are moments of respite, but he would not be helping us to increase our faith if it made the journey too easy.

I have tried to keep this in mind on many occasions during my labors with my pen. I do view that portion of my life as being his calling upon my being. And while I often find the avenues of thought incredibly varied, the plain reality is that in terms of success, I could hardly claim this path has lead to some sort of fame.

Which naturally can be very discouraging at times. Such as when I pour all my energy and faith into a story and end up not being able to do anything with it. Or to offer it up in some arena where I hope it will be granted a chance to shine and the door closes. Those are the moments of heart ach that are definitely hard to accept.

But what comforts me and gives me strength is allowing God’s spirit to remind me that obedience it the purpose of my labors. Not whether I personally gain fame or accolade for their efforts. That is the path of the ego. It is the carnal side of our life that demands and measures what has worth by whether it gives us something to boast.

And the one thing I do rejoice about is when I fall into some shadowy pit of self-pity, God’s spirit ministers to my pain. He doesn’t send a rainfall of blessing, but he does give me strength to keep going.

Thus while the world and those who value only hear and now think in terms of crowns in this life, our eyes of faith need to cling to the power of the Holy Spirit to grant us visions of the crowns of eternity that are promised to the redeemed. As for me, well it might not be the perfect answer to all of life’s problems, but hopefully it is one that can grant us some peace in the midst of the times when life has more tears than smiles.