When frustrating situations [1] come into our lives it’s tempting to become bitter and angry. But by looking past the pain we learn a very important lesson about God.
Category: The Adventures of JB
As my journey back to Melbourne continues one of the emotions I struggle with is frustration. Not a frustration with the Australian government (they’ve been incredibly helpful) but a frustration with how long the process is taking.
Frustration over things not happening the way we want is actually a normal emotion, the danger arises when we allow that frustration to begin affecting the way we view God [1].
Because of this I asked myself recently, “how is my extended stay in the US a blessing?”
Almost immediately the Lord gave an answer; It offers perspective on God’s sovereignty, and my weakness.
I’m the kind of person who hates to ask people for help. The belief is since everyone is struggling with their own problems I shouldn’t burden them with mine, but it’s just plain pride.
Over time that refusal to ask for help developed the habit of trying to “fix” all of life’s problems on my own. It got to the point when facing a challenge my first thought would be “how do I fix this?”
The problem is I’m not created to fix the problems of life. I’m called to seek the Will of God (His commands) and obey them so that the Lord can fix things.
Of course being a strong-willed [2] individual I still try to take care of it myself…so God brings a situation into my life that I can’t fix [3].
It’s easy to become bitter when encountering a unfixable problem from the Lord, but it can also remind us it’s God’s job to fix things.
You have no idea how liberating that thought can be
Of course it isn’t easy admitting you can’t fix things (and swallowing your pride) but asking God for help can bring an incredible peace.
- When stress comes my first thought doesn’t have to be “how can I fix this?”
- My first thought becomes “Lord how can you use this for your glory?”[4]
- It’s no longer about my strength, it’s about God’s strength (I WILL BE BROKEN, but that’s okay)
- The Lord brings us to His Word so that our comfort comes from Him instead of ourselves
- Over time our eyes will be focused on God instead of the struggle
- This gives us a true sense of perspective: God is the one who is Sovereign and created everything, my only job is to obey Him
Job found that sense of perspective after exhibiting frustration and self-pity over a unfixable problem in His life. Towards the end of his venting God Himself showed up…this resulted in a complete change of attitude.
Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted
Job 42:3 Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand. Things to wonderful for me, which I did not know
Translation: You are so much more powerful than me Lord (42:2) I had no idea what I was talking about (42:3).
Thankfully the Lord doesn’t always have to bring chaos into our lives for us to confess this, but it’s good to know He is willing to do it if necessary.
A few weeks ago I filled out a twenty-one page application that included character references, a background check paid for by me, addresses along with work history for the last eight years, and a
The amazing thing is it’s for a volunteering position [1]
Please don’t think I’m being negative about this organization because the amount of paperwork just makes me respect it more. The truth is many groups make it far too easy for a person to start volunteering.
The real reason for the lengthy application is this group focuses on mentoring instead of volunteering. While it may seem as if there isn’t a difference, trust me when I say there is.
Volunteering:
- Involves forty-five minutes to an hour of your time
- Very structured (you are there for a specific reason)
- Ministers to one specific need (reading or writing)
Mentoring:
- Normally involves a lot more time (two to three hours)
- Little structure (can be something different every day)
- Ministers to many different needs
The point is we have many volunteers [2], but few mentors [3].
It doesn’t take long to understand why mentors are so desparately needed
It takes massive amounts of time and energy
It can be messy (dealing with real struggles)
And there are massive legal issues involved [4]
In my opinion however mentoring is worth whatever price we have to pay, because it deals with real life.
Yes it’s important for young people to discuss a book or complete a difficult math problem…but beneath the surface there are personal struggles they have no idea how to deal with.
Mentoring ministries [5] give young people the freedom to bring up those deeper things they may be struggling with even if it has nothing to do with academics [6].
I believe kids crave this kind of relationship but they won’t initiate it…instead they wait for someone else to take the first step in mentoring.
A few years ago I was finishing up a mentoring session with a High School senior about time management and asked if there was anything he wanted to talk about.
After looking down a picking at a spot at the table for a minute he said in a quiet voice “yea man I was wondering how do you ask a girl out on a date?”
In that moment our focus swung from tutoring (helping with organization) to mentoring (dealing with real life). And I noticed there was a passion and excitement about our meetings once this change was made [7].
There is definitely a need for tutors who make sure children are prepared academically, but there also is a need for mentors who stratch beneath the surface, and prepare them for real life.
- I don’t get paid anything for it ↩
- people willing to spend an hour helping children read ↩
- people who will help children with the struggles of daily life ↩
- which is why I filled out a twenty-one page application ↩
- after school programs, sports programs, homework help ↩
- I realize professional counselor or help might be needed in these situations, but you would be amazed how much a listening ear can do ↩
- more than one session started with him saying “okay man I have to tell you something” ↩
Every Wednesday I tutor Phillip [1] a kindergartener at a local elementary school who struggles with spelling. Last week after going through our ABC’s, we began reading a book about animals, and found a picture of a porcupine.
Phillip was fascinated by the spikes (quills) of the porcupine and asked me why they had it had them. After explaining that it was the way they protected themselves something in my heart encouraged me to talk to him about God.
Our conversation went something like this…
“Me: You know Phillip Mr. Wilburn believes that God created the porcupine
“Phillip: Oh I know who that is, he lives up there! (pointing to the ceiling)
It’s my belief that the Lord brings many moments into our lives when the Gospel (or part of it) can be shared in everyday conversation [2]
Lately I’ve noticed though that even when the Lord brings a “God moment” into my life I don’t take it
This has nothing to do with the fact that I’m ashamed to share the Gospel, but there are many legal issues involved with sharing it (particularly while tutoring in the school system) [3].
This is why the Lord creates God moments:
- Moments when the Gospel can be used to answer a persons question (like why does the porcupine have spikes?)
- Moments when the Gospel is shared in a conversational style (here is what I believe and I would be very interested in finding out your view)
- Moments when the person is dealing with a great struggle (let me tell you how the Lord helped me in a situation like this)
- Moments when your testimony leads to a deeper conversation
The thing about God moments is they aren’t obvious…God’s not going to hit you over the head with a hammer when He wants the Gospel to be shared.
Instead they come quietly
The friend whose having a bad day
A conversation at lunch
A co-worker who needs someone to talk to
Or a book about animals
It’s the will of God that the Gospel would flow through us so that we are constantly (in humility) bringing it into our everyday conversation. So it won’t always be easy to find a God moment.
But when you do, it’s incredibly exciting.
svgmissionary.com 