John 16:31-33
Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Today would be the 78th birthday of Elvis Aaron Presley. In 1960, the legendary musician and actor had a number one hit single called, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” that is ranked #81 on Billboard’s list of “greatest songs of all time.” If I were to ask you whether you are lonesome, you very well might laugh at me. “Are you kidding? I have people around me all the time… two brothers and a sister… four kids and a wife/husband…I work with dozens of people every day…I live in an apartment complex/facility with several other families and individuals… I’m a cashier at Wal-Mart or a server at a restaurant!” Yes, I get it… you are not alone. But are you lonely? There is a difference!
People who are lonely often lack the unshakable, deep peace of God. They may sense His presence… and surely they feel the company of other people in their lives. But it is entirely possible to feel lonely without being alone. And those who do not experience the profound, unwavering presence of God are vulnerable to attack from the devil… which can bring a myriad of troubles and difficulties that often seem insurmountable.
Many of us give wonderful lip service to the acknowledgement of God’s existence in our life. We agree wholeheartedly that Jesus is with us. We claim the presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart. And then we totally abandon Him. We talk a good game… but we don’t actually live out our declarations. So while we readily recognize that the Father is with us… that we are not abandoned… we fail to trust Him completely. And we are shaken… we lack assurance and deep peace when troubles come. And Jesus has told us that troubles will come!
Search your heart today. See whether God is a visitor in your life… or a fulltime resident. When troubles come… or the devil suggests that you are lonely… where do you turn? Have you allowed him room to work in your heart, or are you deeply rooted in the unshakable peace and assurance that the Father is always with you, conquering all of your difficulties and securing His victories for you?
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to say unequivocally that Jesus has your back… that there is nothing you can’t handle with His help? Did you know that today can be that day? It’s a matter of shifting your attitude… and surrendering completely. When we “let go and let God,” nothing can permanently rattle us. Are you ready to operate in unshakable peace and assurance? Are you “lonesome tonight?” Is this you’re a great day to change?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label handling trouble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handling trouble. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 7, 2012
May 7 ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4-7
He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.
James 1:12
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Anyone who has ever spent time “hospital sitting” will understand me when I say that my faith has been tested, and I we’ve been in trouble more than once this week. Last night, my grandmother muttered, “I’m worried about you.” I reminded her of the scripture from Galatians 6 and Isaiah 41 in yesterday’s devotional… how God has his arms around us – and as long as I am doing what I am supposed to in caring for her and helping her, He will help me. “You believe that, don’t you?” I asked. “Yes,” she nodded.
We wonder why suffering is allowed… why such challenges are given to us… but truly, we just don’t see what God is doing behind the scenes. As I think back to the nurse’s aide who gleaned information from my sister about getting a Health Information Services degree… to the R.N. who shared her concern over rearing her grandson while also taking her mother for a scan today to see if she is cancer-free following surgery and treatment… to the friends we met who also had loved ones hospitalized, I realize that God used us to help others even as others helped us! So many people were blessed by my grandmother’s smile and gentle spirit. Housekeepers stopped by just to hold her hand for a few minutes. Doctors marveled at her long life and how so many people love and care for her.
My grandmother has been blessed with a glorious life. There have been challenges… and times when I’m sure her faith has been tested. She has suffered terribly at times. But she has been comforted, and she has not given up. Now, at nearly 100 years of age, she asks why it is taking so long to get to heaven, and I tell her that maybe God is still working on a mega-mansion for her!
I know that many of you are facing enormous challenges. As nurses and medical staff have passed through my grandmother’s room, I’ve picked up little snippets of information – enough to know that EVERYBODY has issues and struggles… some of them pretty huge! My prayer is that your faith is as big as your challenges… that even when you struggle, you do not give up. Remember Jesus and His sufferings… and that He is with you in your own trials. Hold fast to the promise of better days and the wonderful comfort of One who counts each of your tears and stores them in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Remember to “Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.” May He give you comfort and renew your faith today… and always.
©2012 Debbie Robus
He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.
James 1:12
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Anyone who has ever spent time “hospital sitting” will understand me when I say that my faith has been tested, and I we’ve been in trouble more than once this week. Last night, my grandmother muttered, “I’m worried about you.” I reminded her of the scripture from Galatians 6 and Isaiah 41 in yesterday’s devotional… how God has his arms around us – and as long as I am doing what I am supposed to in caring for her and helping her, He will help me. “You believe that, don’t you?” I asked. “Yes,” she nodded.
We wonder why suffering is allowed… why such challenges are given to us… but truly, we just don’t see what God is doing behind the scenes. As I think back to the nurse’s aide who gleaned information from my sister about getting a Health Information Services degree… to the R.N. who shared her concern over rearing her grandson while also taking her mother for a scan today to see if she is cancer-free following surgery and treatment… to the friends we met who also had loved ones hospitalized, I realize that God used us to help others even as others helped us! So many people were blessed by my grandmother’s smile and gentle spirit. Housekeepers stopped by just to hold her hand for a few minutes. Doctors marveled at her long life and how so many people love and care for her.
My grandmother has been blessed with a glorious life. There have been challenges… and times when I’m sure her faith has been tested. She has suffered terribly at times. But she has been comforted, and she has not given up. Now, at nearly 100 years of age, she asks why it is taking so long to get to heaven, and I tell her that maybe God is still working on a mega-mansion for her!
I know that many of you are facing enormous challenges. As nurses and medical staff have passed through my grandmother’s room, I’ve picked up little snippets of information – enough to know that EVERYBODY has issues and struggles… some of them pretty huge! My prayer is that your faith is as big as your challenges… that even when you struggle, you do not give up. Remember Jesus and His sufferings… and that He is with you in your own trials. Hold fast to the promise of better days and the wonderful comfort of One who counts each of your tears and stores them in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Remember to “Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.” May He give you comfort and renew your faith today… and always.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 7, 2012
Romans 15:1-6
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?”
That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I grew up in an atmosphere of “seeing after” others. It was common to “take a dish” when someone died or got sick. I’ve seen my grandmother make everything from vegetable soup to a pan of hot rolls to a full meal for others who were going through a rough patch. I’ve heard her talk about going to someone’s home and taking care of them and their family when they were sick and in need. My late cousin Eddie was known for the smoked or baked hams he delivered to families who had suffered a loss. I remember how a dear neighbor brought a delicious meal to the home of my husband’s parents the night my father-in-law died.
As important as food and nurture are when we are in need, human contact and support are equally vital. I will never forget the half dozen or more ladies who came from my parents’ church and organized shifts to prepare meals and run my mom’s kitchen and household when my dad and brother died. It seemed as if there was someone there to organize everything from the morning breakfast to mopping the floors before bedtime – for almost a week! I can still picture a dear friend who lay across a bed with my grandmother and consoled her after my dad – her only son – had died. I still recall the weekly visits of a certain pastor in our town when my dad and brother were ill. Neither of them were members of his congregation… yet, he found time to visit and offer support to all of us.
I know as surely as I am writing this devotional that there are people in my community – and in my own circle of family and friends – who are in need of help, strength and encouragement today… the kind that I can offer. And I am sure that it is the same for you. Who is sick? Who has been injured? Who has suffered the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, their health, a home, and more? Who is moving or working on a project that could use a couple of extra hands and feet? Where are you able to offer God’s love and a little hope to someone who might need it? Can you “take a dish” and offer physical sustenance? Can you offer a hug, write a note of encouragement, or share a conversation to let someone know that you care? Can you give someone a ride, care for a pet, or babysit for a few hours?
I guarantee you, as much as people notice when you help them, they also notice when you don’t. And we can all come up with dozens of excuses for not coming to the aid of those around us who are in need – even down to our own family members. The tasks are not always pleasant. It’s often downright difficult. Knowing what to say and do takes prayer… and practice!
Meeting the needs of others may not come as easily for you as it seems to for some… but that doesn’t give you a “free pass.” God will equip you with exactly what you need to say and do… but you have to get up and get going. You have to be willing to take a risk and “take on the troubles of the troubled” in Jesus’ name.
Who will you reach out to this day? Where will you lend a hand… offer God’s hope… surrender yourself and do what is less than convenient? I can assure you already that you will never regret it. You will find that in blessing others in God’s name, you always get the bigger blessing. Are you ready to truly count for God? Are you ready to serve Him and exercise your “faith muscle?” Where will you “wade in” and make a difference today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?”
That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I grew up in an atmosphere of “seeing after” others. It was common to “take a dish” when someone died or got sick. I’ve seen my grandmother make everything from vegetable soup to a pan of hot rolls to a full meal for others who were going through a rough patch. I’ve heard her talk about going to someone’s home and taking care of them and their family when they were sick and in need. My late cousin Eddie was known for the smoked or baked hams he delivered to families who had suffered a loss. I remember how a dear neighbor brought a delicious meal to the home of my husband’s parents the night my father-in-law died.
As important as food and nurture are when we are in need, human contact and support are equally vital. I will never forget the half dozen or more ladies who came from my parents’ church and organized shifts to prepare meals and run my mom’s kitchen and household when my dad and brother died. It seemed as if there was someone there to organize everything from the morning breakfast to mopping the floors before bedtime – for almost a week! I can still picture a dear friend who lay across a bed with my grandmother and consoled her after my dad – her only son – had died. I still recall the weekly visits of a certain pastor in our town when my dad and brother were ill. Neither of them were members of his congregation… yet, he found time to visit and offer support to all of us.
I know as surely as I am writing this devotional that there are people in my community – and in my own circle of family and friends – who are in need of help, strength and encouragement today… the kind that I can offer. And I am sure that it is the same for you. Who is sick? Who has been injured? Who has suffered the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, their health, a home, and more? Who is moving or working on a project that could use a couple of extra hands and feet? Where are you able to offer God’s love and a little hope to someone who might need it? Can you “take a dish” and offer physical sustenance? Can you offer a hug, write a note of encouragement, or share a conversation to let someone know that you care? Can you give someone a ride, care for a pet, or babysit for a few hours?
I guarantee you, as much as people notice when you help them, they also notice when you don’t. And we can all come up with dozens of excuses for not coming to the aid of those around us who are in need – even down to our own family members. The tasks are not always pleasant. It’s often downright difficult. Knowing what to say and do takes prayer… and practice!
Meeting the needs of others may not come as easily for you as it seems to for some… but that doesn’t give you a “free pass.” God will equip you with exactly what you need to say and do… but you have to get up and get going. You have to be willing to take a risk and “take on the troubles of the troubled” in Jesus’ name.
Who will you reach out to this day? Where will you lend a hand… offer God’s hope… surrender yourself and do what is less than convenient? I can assure you already that you will never regret it. You will find that in blessing others in God’s name, you always get the bigger blessing. Are you ready to truly count for God? Are you ready to serve Him and exercise your “faith muscle?” Where will you “wade in” and make a difference today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 17, 2011
Psalm 107:1-3
Shout praises to the LORD! He is good to us, and his love never fails. Everyone the LORD has rescued from trouble should praise him, everyone he has brought from the east and the west, the north and the south.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My great-aunt Altha used to say, “Don’t borrow trouble.” And I will have to say, she practiced this motto fairly well. She chose not to dwell on unpleasant thoughts… and at least appeared to put them out of her mind. But for many of us, troubles are like an old security blanket that we wrestle and wallow and continually hold tightly to our chests. We know that God is faithful to answer our prayers. We know that He has rescued us from past troubles. But instead of praising Him and resting in the comfort of knowing that He will do this again, we worry and wallow!
I will admit that I have my moments. I want to pick up burdens and troubles and carry them around like an old, familiar blanket. But I’m learning more and more every day about trusting God and praising Him… especially in times of trouble. God has rescued me so many times. All I have to do is reflect a moment on how much He has loved me and cared for me in the past to realize that He is still in the business of being good to His children!
So stop and take a deep breath. Whatever you are going through today… and I mean whatever is troubling you… remind yourself that God is in control, and He is in the business of rescuing His children from trouble. Ask Him to take care of your burdens for you… your challenges, ailments, sorrows and grief - and your worries of all sorts. Thank Him in advance for handling these things for you. Then step out in confidence that all will be well.
This is not pie-in-the-sky dreams… this is the truth! It may seem like your world is crashing down around you… you may feel the walls caving in… but God is there to hold everything together and rescue you. All you have to do is let Him… believe in His power… and thank Him for His love.
Don’t borrow trouble… let God have it all. Give Him praise for His unfailing, amazing love and care… and thank Him for being so good to us.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the LORD! He is good to us, and his love never fails. Everyone the LORD has rescued from trouble should praise him, everyone he has brought from the east and the west, the north and the south.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My great-aunt Altha used to say, “Don’t borrow trouble.” And I will have to say, she practiced this motto fairly well. She chose not to dwell on unpleasant thoughts… and at least appeared to put them out of her mind. But for many of us, troubles are like an old security blanket that we wrestle and wallow and continually hold tightly to our chests. We know that God is faithful to answer our prayers. We know that He has rescued us from past troubles. But instead of praising Him and resting in the comfort of knowing that He will do this again, we worry and wallow!
I will admit that I have my moments. I want to pick up burdens and troubles and carry them around like an old, familiar blanket. But I’m learning more and more every day about trusting God and praising Him… especially in times of trouble. God has rescued me so many times. All I have to do is reflect a moment on how much He has loved me and cared for me in the past to realize that He is still in the business of being good to His children!
So stop and take a deep breath. Whatever you are going through today… and I mean whatever is troubling you… remind yourself that God is in control, and He is in the business of rescuing His children from trouble. Ask Him to take care of your burdens for you… your challenges, ailments, sorrows and grief - and your worries of all sorts. Thank Him in advance for handling these things for you. Then step out in confidence that all will be well.
This is not pie-in-the-sky dreams… this is the truth! It may seem like your world is crashing down around you… you may feel the walls caving in… but God is there to hold everything together and rescue you. All you have to do is let Him… believe in His power… and thank Him for His love.
Don’t borrow trouble… let God have it all. Give Him praise for His unfailing, amazing love and care… and thank Him for being so good to us.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 18, 2011
Proverbs 22:8, 10
Troublemakers get in trouble, and their terrible anger will get them nowhere.
Arguments and fights will come to an end, if you chase away those who insult others.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was having a conversation with a friend recently about Facebook. We noted that there are some people who have expressed certain views and opinions – or used language we don’t condone – and we have had to block or remove them from our “Friends” list. I don’t want others who read my wall to see these types of posts and assume I approve of the content. Like it or not, we are quite often known by the company we keep!
A lot of people post comments on Facebook that are controversial at best… and downright offensive to many. They do this to get a rise out of others… because of their own anger… and quite honestly, out of fear – both imagined and justified. And it’s not just on Facebook. People do this in e-mail messages, letters to the editor of a local newspaper, face-to-face conversations, from the pulpit and the lecturn, and at table discussions at the local coffee shop or break room. A case in point is the “evangelist” whose rant I recently saw on a TV news show. She claimed that there was a connection with Spiritual ramifications between the blackbirds falling from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas… an Arkansas governor named Beebe… and a former Arkansas governor who supported “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” She tried to tie all of this into a neat package to suggest that the “end times were near”… and this was our sign!
As Christians, we have to change the channel on such nonsense! We have to “unfriend” those who choose to post insults and obscenities on Facebook. We must delete the e-mail messages that spread vicious lies and insults. And at times, we must stand up to those who send or say such things and say, “This is offensive to me… I do not like what you are saying and doing. I encourage you to stop… but at least stop including me in your messages/circle.”
If you couple these scripture verses with those in the New Testament where Jesus often confronted those who were causing trouble, you see that we are called to do our part to diffuse troublemakers and potentially volatile situations. There are times that ignoring angry outbursts and vile comments is the appropriate action. There are also times when we must confront those who are causing trouble… but always in a loving, caring manner – never insulting or being angry in return.
Simply blocking or avoiding those with angry tempers and troublesome behaviors may not be enough… and this could signal to others that you are on board. Ask God to help you discern when to be silent… and when to challenge troublemakers and disruptive behaviors. Ask God to give you understanding and compassion for those who are operating in fear… and to show you how to encourage them to seek His direction as they express their feelings. And while you are at it, ask God to give you the right attitude… and sense and sensibility in your own conduct.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Troublemakers get in trouble, and their terrible anger will get them nowhere.
Arguments and fights will come to an end, if you chase away those who insult others.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was having a conversation with a friend recently about Facebook. We noted that there are some people who have expressed certain views and opinions – or used language we don’t condone – and we have had to block or remove them from our “Friends” list. I don’t want others who read my wall to see these types of posts and assume I approve of the content. Like it or not, we are quite often known by the company we keep!
A lot of people post comments on Facebook that are controversial at best… and downright offensive to many. They do this to get a rise out of others… because of their own anger… and quite honestly, out of fear – both imagined and justified. And it’s not just on Facebook. People do this in e-mail messages, letters to the editor of a local newspaper, face-to-face conversations, from the pulpit and the lecturn, and at table discussions at the local coffee shop or break room. A case in point is the “evangelist” whose rant I recently saw on a TV news show. She claimed that there was a connection with Spiritual ramifications between the blackbirds falling from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas… an Arkansas governor named Beebe… and a former Arkansas governor who supported “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” She tried to tie all of this into a neat package to suggest that the “end times were near”… and this was our sign!
As Christians, we have to change the channel on such nonsense! We have to “unfriend” those who choose to post insults and obscenities on Facebook. We must delete the e-mail messages that spread vicious lies and insults. And at times, we must stand up to those who send or say such things and say, “This is offensive to me… I do not like what you are saying and doing. I encourage you to stop… but at least stop including me in your messages/circle.”
If you couple these scripture verses with those in the New Testament where Jesus often confronted those who were causing trouble, you see that we are called to do our part to diffuse troublemakers and potentially volatile situations. There are times that ignoring angry outbursts and vile comments is the appropriate action. There are also times when we must confront those who are causing trouble… but always in a loving, caring manner – never insulting or being angry in return.
Simply blocking or avoiding those with angry tempers and troublesome behaviors may not be enough… and this could signal to others that you are on board. Ask God to help you discern when to be silent… and when to challenge troublemakers and disruptive behaviors. Ask God to give you understanding and compassion for those who are operating in fear… and to show you how to encourage them to seek His direction as they express their feelings. And while you are at it, ask God to give you the right attitude… and sense and sensibility in your own conduct.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 5, 2011
Proverbs 22:4
When you see trouble coming, don't be stupid and walk right into it-- be smart and hide.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was returning home from a trip to the grocery store, and I came upon a car wreck. Emergency personnel were on the scene - attending to those who were injured and clearing the debris - and traffic was at a standstill. There was nowhere to turn off the road… no side routes for a detour… so I had to sit in the line of traffic and wait for a deputy to signal that I could proceed forward and past the collision area.
When something like this happens, some people stupidly turn and head directly toward the accident scene… we sometimes call them “rubberneckers.” They enjoy seeing the trouble of others. Others simply are not paying attention. They heard sirens… they saw ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks whiz past them… yet they forged ahead and drove right into the heart of the chaos and found themselves caught up in it. Still others sometimes unwittingly end up in troublesome situations, through no fault of their own.
There are lots of situations that fall somewhere between the rubberneckers and those who are not paying attention. Many of us get involved in things that are none of our business… or we end up “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” We become embroiled in others’ arguments and drama… we find ourselves in the car with someone who is drinking - or covering for someone in a lie… we interject our own feelings and opinions and make a bad situation much worse.
We all have our “moments,” but God wants us to be awake and alert… and seeking His will and guidance at all times. He can help us avoid many of the “minefields” of life… the troublesome situations in which we do not – or should not – have a part! He helps us look for side roads and detours to take in order to bypass direct involvement in a collision or conflict.
How do you handle trouble… or the potential for a troubling situation? Do you ask God to guide your steps, or do you drive blindly forward and “let the chips fall where they may”? Are you seeking the guidance and wisdom of The One who can help you live in harmony… and bring glory and honor to His name? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When you see trouble coming, don't be stupid and walk right into it-- be smart and hide.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was returning home from a trip to the grocery store, and I came upon a car wreck. Emergency personnel were on the scene - attending to those who were injured and clearing the debris - and traffic was at a standstill. There was nowhere to turn off the road… no side routes for a detour… so I had to sit in the line of traffic and wait for a deputy to signal that I could proceed forward and past the collision area.
When something like this happens, some people stupidly turn and head directly toward the accident scene… we sometimes call them “rubberneckers.” They enjoy seeing the trouble of others. Others simply are not paying attention. They heard sirens… they saw ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks whiz past them… yet they forged ahead and drove right into the heart of the chaos and found themselves caught up in it. Still others sometimes unwittingly end up in troublesome situations, through no fault of their own.
There are lots of situations that fall somewhere between the rubberneckers and those who are not paying attention. Many of us get involved in things that are none of our business… or we end up “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” We become embroiled in others’ arguments and drama… we find ourselves in the car with someone who is drinking - or covering for someone in a lie… we interject our own feelings and opinions and make a bad situation much worse.
We all have our “moments,” but God wants us to be awake and alert… and seeking His will and guidance at all times. He can help us avoid many of the “minefields” of life… the troublesome situations in which we do not – or should not – have a part! He helps us look for side roads and detours to take in order to bypass direct involvement in a collision or conflict.
How do you handle trouble… or the potential for a troubling situation? Do you ask God to guide your steps, or do you drive blindly forward and “let the chips fall where they may”? Are you seeking the guidance and wisdom of The One who can help you live in harmony… and bring glory and honor to His name? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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