OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW
Some days clouds prevail. Rain refreshes the earth (if there’s not more than the ground can absorb). While having no sunshine may dampen my spirit, my thoughts drift to Jesus the Giver of both sunshine and rain. Both sunshine and rain provide opportunities to grow.
Opportunities come with good and bad
Gardens produce grows with the warmth of the sun and the moisture of the rain (along with needed nutrients in the soil). In like manner, God gives spiritual growth in good times and bad. If given a preference, we likely would choose sunshine over rain and completion of our plans with no interruptions. Like a rock, God remains the same at all times. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Opportunities from failure
Yet all sunshine and no rain yield a desert like environment. We learn lessons in failure but we miss lessons altogether when we lack problems to solve. Rare is the day when we have no delays. With waiting times, come new opportunities for spiritual growth.
Opportunities in my Life
Beginning in 1999, my husband David labored in Alabama to build our new house and grow food to eat and sell. However, I stayed in South Carolina with my job.
Also my aging mother lived in South Carolina. As an only child, I felt the need to care for her. After she broke her hip in 2000, I moved her first to a hospital, then to a Medicaid bed in a nursing home. Her hip surgery went well and she recovered. David found a Medicaid bed in Alabama in expectation of us all living in Alabama. Then mom broke her other hip. We saw this as God’s saying He had a different plan for my mom. She went home to heaven in 2003.
Refocusing opportunities
When I give myself to God for His use, my annoyance vanishes as my eyes refocus on God’s better plan. Now He has my attention! God moved me to Alabama in 2010 when I had a new job. My boss allowed me to take with me to Alabama.
Opportunities for growth within marriage
Consequently, God strengthened our marriage the eleven years David lived in Alabama and I lived in South Carolina. We went to church on Sunday. We read our Bible and talked to each other during the week. I’m told a large battery retains energy better when given a steady, low dose of power. God’s trickle charge of church on Sunday and personal Bible study fed us strength as needed. By these means, God accomplished His purpose and met our individual and family needs.
With the unique abilities and skills God gave each one of us, He can accomplish some task using us as individuals as His specialized tool. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
Keep your eyes open to some ministry God may have for you today. It might be right under your nose!
Shirley Logsdon
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/02/06/spiritual-incisions/