The Struggle Bus part 1
Sometimes we ride the struggle bus. Sometimes we DRIVE the struggle bus. And when we do, I just want to say... that's ok. Life doesn't always go the way we want it to. Sometimes we have good days, and sometimes we have bad days. That's just part and parcel to life. The key is to, well, let Jesus take the wheel. Because He can get us to where we're supposed to go. Even if it takes a trip on the struggle bus to get there. Sometimes we have to go through things in order to get to the other side. And by going through it... we can learn and grow. We can mature. We can gain experience and then turn around and help others who are going through the same types of things. Look at John 16:33--it's a verse I quote a lot because it's a verse I cling to--Jesus speaking, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus didn't say we wouldn't ever have any struggles. In fact, He said the exact opposite. He knew what the human condition was all about because He lived it. He wrapped Himself up in human flesh in order to be a high priest that knew--on an intimate, personal level--what His people were going through. He didn't sit up on a cloud, holding a lightning bolt, waiting for us to screw up so He could get us. That sounds more like Zeus than the God who is love. He came down to where we were. Right in the midst of our mess. Look at Genesis 46:4, "I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again..." See, we think we need to bring ourselves up to Him. The Tower of Babel, right? Make a name for ourselves. When in truth, God always comes down to us in order to bring us up. He meets us where we're at. Right there on the struggle bus. Because--I mentioned this the other day--when you need to be saved (in a here and now, present danger situation) all you have to do is call upon the Lord. Invite Him into the situation. And, by the way, I believe God protects us and saves us from a lot of things we don't even know about. Just because He is our heavenly Father and He loves us. I think that while we should cultivate an attitude of gratitude, a lifestyle of praying without ceasing, a connection with our heavenly Father where He is at the center of our lives... the center of everything that we do... I also think there's an almost special power in giving those things into His hands that we simply cannot handle. A surrender. Both of the situation, and our lives. Being able to say, "I can't do this..." and letting go and letting God. Sometimes you sow your own poision, or dig your own grave, in a manner of speaking. Sometimes your own choices lead you to places you don't want to go. Even--I'm telling you--even in those cases God will bail you out. He allows U-turns. And in fact I think He encourages them. So if you find yourself on the struggle bus... let Jesus take the wheel. Don't keep plowing ahead if you don't have to. Don't cling to a mistake just because it took a lot of time and effort to make. And understand that sometimes things happen. Outside of your control. You don't have to suffer, no matter what the tribulations are. You can be of good cheer. You can trust in God to carry you through. You can... and you should!