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“In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2).
Last Friday we walked through a large warehouse (google map view) visiting the employees at Kleen-Rite, a wholesale company that distributes car wash supplies using the puller/packer system. The puller goes through the warehouse pulling orders while the packer packs and prepares them for shipment.
Steve, the warehouse manager, was walking down the packer line and working on each packer’s computer. As Brooksyne and I were visiting with one of the packers we overheard him say to her, “That should be it, now just reboot and that should solve all your problems.” He looked up at us and smiled, clarifying, “Well, not all your problems, just the ones having to do with the computer!”
That got me thinking, wouldn’t it be great if there was a solution to all our problems that was as easy as rebooting a computer? If we had a life reboot button we could press and voilà, all our problems would disappear. But you’ve surely learned by now life just doesn’t work that way.
We had problems before we became a Christian; we still have problems as young Christians and we will have problems through all the stages of our Christ-like development till the Lord calls us home! If you don’t have any problems I have a world to share with you! After all we are called to bear one another’s burdens (problems). That’s the nature of our work as chaplains and we hear plenty of other’s problems. For several years we worked for a company called Marketplace Chaplains founded by Gil Stricklin, who would say in his distinctive Texas drawl, “Everyone’s either had a problem, has a problem or is gonna have a problem”.
That’s been our experience in life although not as many or severe as some. In 2002 I (Stephen) had a lengthy intestinal problem that lasted over a year resulting in four major surgeries. When people would inquire about my ongoing health I responded, “We don’t pick our problems and we don’t schedule them”. I’ve said that repeatedly about other matters since that challenging year because I learned some life lessons from that difficult experience.
Having problems should not surprise us. Jesus said to His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble (problems)” (John 16:33). Paul’s apostolic message to an early church is summed up with these words, “We must go through many hardships (problems) to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). James wrote, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (problems)” (James 1:2).
We will have to wait for our future home to live problem free. In that place we read, “He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
In the meantime may you experience the assurance Paul had when he dealt with an ongoing chronic problem. He had prayed about it repeatedly, but after what appeared to be much wrestling with God over the troubling circumstance, the Lord’s final say on the matter settled his heart, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, when times are tough, if we fully rely on You, we find that You are enough to get us through that which would otherwise overwhelm us. You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains be cast into the sea. You are Creator of the universe, creator of our human existence and You are in control of all that concerns us. We trust You for that which distresses us including those whom You have placed in our care. We must go through many hardships to enter Your kingdom, but You go before us, prepare the way and sustain us during the journey. Help us to plod on and pray every step of the way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Psalm 46:1