I completed the Beth Moore Esther study last week and there are so many nuggets I am still pondering. One of the questions Beth asked that has been lingering is this: Am I strong in my faith or just spoiled?
Think about it. Compared to people around the world, I am insanely wealthy. I have central heating and air, a comfortable bed, plenty of food and clothing. I have access to health care. I have the freedom to worship my God (and write about Him on the Internet from my very own computer with mostly uninterrupted access.) I don't have to worry about how I am going to feed my children. I have insurance to cover most catastrophes. I have a husband that loves me. My children have access to excellent educational opportunities.
I don't have everything I want, of course, but I have much more than I need.
My family is surrounded by loving friends. We are happy and healthy. We are not just surviving, we are thriving.
I listen to adolescents at the group home tell their stories, flip through the Compassion website or read the blog of friends of mine serving as missionaries in Guatemala and am quickly reminded that I am living a life of comparable ease. I don't want to forget what 'real life' looks like for millions of God's children.
If you are reading this post, I would venture to say you are in a similar situation. You have a home, access to clean water, freedom, food to eat, eyes to see, and the resources to enable you to get on a computer and be exposed to the world. When we put it all in perspective, we have it made don't we? God has been good to us in practical, comfortable ways.
So, back to Beth's challenge. It seems it is pretty easy to love, serve and worship God when things are going your way. Life is good, therefore, God must be good. There is a human tendency to measure the goodness of the Giver by the quality of His Gifts...but what will happen to that kind of faith when the storms come?
I think that is why the Sweeney's story moves so many. They, like Job, are in the center of difficult, turbulent times that would cause the strongest to plead for mercy or run away in anger and frustration...and yet, to the cross they cling tightly. As they stare mortality in the face they KNOW what matters.
Our accountant, a Christ following, zealous 40 year old father of 3, was diagnosed with cancer this week that is PET positive in a number of places (bones) throughout his body. His wife sent a beautiful e-mail today where she reminded the readers that "at the heart of every storm there is a victory waiting to be claimed." She also quoted James, "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" James 1:2-3
And so tonight I ask again: Am I strong or just spoiled?
8 comments:
Thank you so much for sharing this. What a great thought to ponder! It is so easy to praise God when things are going great, but in tough times we need Him even more, and sometimes it is hard to remember that it is the same God that gives us storms and sunny days!
"At the heart of every storm there is a victory waiting to be claimed"...what a revelation! Tonight has been a hard one for me and I've been praying for divine intervention. Thank you for the post and allowing God to use you to speak to me.
You are over thinking it - thinking way too much -
you would be suprised at how differently you would think and feel if you were pushed to actually question your faith. If you ever were really put to the test, and had to look at your family and ask 'why'? When the knock is on your door and the question is asked 'Do you believe in me?' - you will be in awe of the depths of faith. It is a simple question with only one simple answer. It won't matter if you are spoiled are not, because in the instant you are asked - all those 'things' become what they really are, just things. You will receive a new perspective on life. Those 'things' that all of your friends worry about, no longer become your worry - no matter how spoiled. Your perspective will find its focus on all the things that really matter.. All that is left is faith - you will either have it or you won't. Emotions may vary, hills and valleys, but faith never falters - through tears of joy, tears of saddness, tears of anger, or tears of love - they are all part of our human spirit, but the faith will still be there unfaltering, if you have it. The rest melts away and are all sidebars in your life. Stop thinking too much.
Love ya friend!!
Okay this is my P.S.
I come at this from the angle that the pieces are not going fit back together - that no matter the battle and fight, something in your life will be permanently lost. You are strong, you have proven that. I mean, well I think you know what I mean. Looking at it from Ivey's perspective.......
You are right, for one I am spoiled. My faith has been tested and it is stronger for the testing. I actually praise Him for the testing and stretching. Maybe not so much while it was going on but shortly thereafter. You hit the nail on the head. I believe you will be fine when the storm waves hit, you are digging deep now and He is your Anchor and you are holding on. You give all of us so much with your insight and thinking. Enjoy your beautiful family this week end and count your many blessings name them one by one. Blessings...
On our trip to India to bring home our daughter, I realized the very simplest ways I'm blessed. I cried when I came home and could drink water right out of my kitchen faucet, and not worry that it would make me or my kids sick.
I often wonder how I can teach my kids to be grateful for everything we have . . . already one of my sons' 2nd grade friends comes to our house and asks why we don't have video games. I think I will just have to make sure to expose them in person to people who have less . . . do you have ideas for how you want to do this with your kids?
We give to our church's food pantry, we did Operation Christmas Child, they tithe their allowance, etc., but I think it's all pretty abstract for them because they don't see the recipients.
Thanks for this post,
Nancy
Nancy, I share your heart for helping my kids get it. Right now we do that through compassion. As we write and receive letters from our sponsored children we talk about what their conditions are like. I know it is still abstract, but it does seem to help to have pictures and correspondence. When they get a bit older my husband and I really want to take them some of these places. Obviously not yet...
I too have been pondering this question (as well as many others) from our study. But I remember what Beth said concerning this question. She said that God's grace is given according to our needs...not according to our imaginations. Until we are actually walking through a tough situation like some of those you mentioned, that portion of grace and faith hasn't been activated yet. But it is there...for such a time when it is needed. When I try to imagine how I would feel and react to D finding out he had cancer tomorrow, it's hard to see life worth living. But I know that if it did happen, the portion of faith that I need would be provided. 2 Cor. 12:9 (NIV) says:
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
His grace will be sufficient...it will be made perfect when we are weak.
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