It was going to be a hard day, for sure. Being short-handed along with the lingering effects of the full moon guaranteed a difficult shift at work. I was not boldly marching into the day. Instead, waiting until the very last minute, I was hesitantly dragging my Crocs out the door. Truth be told, it wasn’t just today, this has been a season of hard days. Stress builds and I feel like a pressure cooker inside.
I had read my Bible, was even packing verses in my pocket. I had prayed for wisdom, all the Fruit of the Spirit, and a guard over my mouth. As a follower of Christ anda pastor’s wife, I’m supposed to act like I have sense – like I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. I need to be kind. I want to be kind, even when the pressure is on.
I needed to shake off the gloomies and speedy quick. Shoulders slumped; I headed to the car. Suddenly, Rahab came to mind. If she called, what would she say?I wondered, then laughed. Rahab would say, “Girl, let me tell you about hard times. I could have DIED in Jericho!” She would have plenty to tell me about a tough day.
Driving to work, my mind pondered other real-life Bible people. If Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego called… “You think you’re stressed? We stood by the fiery furnace that had been heated seven times hotter than usual. Then, when it didn’t look like it could get any worse, they THREW US INTO THE FIRE.”
If Daniel called… “I’ll tell you about hard times.” Kidnapped, taken to a pagan land, tormented by fellow administrators, a lion’s den, and never to go back home. He would have a comment or 10.
David would remind me that God had delivered him from the paw of the bear and paw of the lion before he faced Goliath. He would tell me that God would do the same for me. He’d be right. When I look at what God has already done, I remember that He will get me through whatever gigantic troubles a day may bring.
Joseph, Noah, Moses, and a host of others had my mind spinning.
Hard seasons don’t last forever; they just seem to move at a snail’s pace. The Lord is faithful each day, each week, each month, each year. For a quick pep rally, we can go straight to His Word.
David encouraged his son Solomon about building the temple. “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work…is finished,” 1 Chronicles 28:20. It was the verse I needed for this very day.
Finally, Hebrews 12:1 calls loudly: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” I’m not gonna run, but I can walk pretty fast.
When we go through times or seasons of frustration, God does not leave us there. He is the reaching-down, lifting-out Father who is full of help, hope and mercy.
If you are also in a season of frustration, in work or even in ministry, let’s fix our eyes on Him and keep going. One hour, one day at a time.