God is not into labels

Because I only had a small finishing touch (a signature) to put on the devotional I had already written, I waited until late last night to do it. It's a two minute job even for my techo-challenged self. So, some time around 11pm-ish, I sat down to 'sign' and post it. Two minutes later, the post disappeared. Seriously.

The disappearing post was about how I occasionally ask God to "label" my trials. I sometimes tell Him that if He labeled them, and I had some kind of warning - before the tough situation hit - I might possibly be equipped to react . . . better. (Something like, "Darnelle, pay attention, fiery darts up ahead!!") So far He's not gotten on board.

Most of the time when I encounter some trial, some unexpected difficulty, I often catch myself falling into 'default' mode. Default mode for me is generally a mixture of anxious thoughts and a sizable portion of fear/doubt. It's not where I want to be. It's certainly not where I should be and yet, before I have a chance to think, there I am. Default mode. Eventually I make my way back to thankfulness and praise mode, but usually only after the detour.

Now, I invite you to enjoy the humor with me. I sat down to publish this post - about how I wish God would label my trials to give me some warning and:

#1 - The post disappeared. (then minutes later)
#2 - My husband injured his back (history says - days in bed for him) and all of the over-time dinero he was going to make this weekend - out the window. He is very disappointed and in pain. (then minutes later)
#3 - I walked into the kitchen only to find our income tax bill that states we owe thousands in taxes - (because of the mismanagement of a former - not so ethical - employer)

Strike 3 . . . And not one of them with a label or warning.

The longer I sit here, the more I realize that a few folks reading this, right now, may be sitting at the top of the slide with me, ready to slip on down to default mode. The place where the enemy causes us to forget who we are and more importantly, Who we serve. The place where fear and doubt reign - and not our King. The place where our (un-announced) trials seem bigger than our God.

Maybe today could be a new day. Maybe today, we just skip default mode, and go directly to thankfulness and praise. Maybe today we just trust what we KNOW about Him and not what we think we SEE . Maybe we could stretch ourselves to believe that, really and truly, ALL THINGS, in God's hands, work together for good.

That's my plan. Though the trials of today, the ones with no labels or warnings, were a surprise to me, they were not, to Him. That's good enough. Join me?

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation; My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior . . . (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

In Him . . .



Visit Darnelle at her personal blog: All Things Work Together. . .