At times, all our lives face physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual challenges. These past few weeks have certainly reconfirmed this for me. However, my return to sharing my blog is not an essay on the effect of my moving challenges but a dialogue on two different ways we might interpret how challenges affect us.
Many, and more times than I can count, I lovingly heard the challenge of my move would overwhelm me, and I could not do it by myself. My retort consistently was that I was not alone. God was with me, directing me and carrying me. From this perspective is where I met God, and He enlightened me.
There are two way of looking at, and perceiving, our challenges. First view is they will be overwhelming. Second vista is that challenges are merely God’s way of putting us under construction. Being overwhelmed is the automatic and simple response that our challenges control us. Under construction is allowing God to change and improve us, lead us through, strengthen us, and change our outlook from us being stifled to our being chiseled into a growing more God like and God dependent human being.
A challenge looked upon as the controller of our existence will without a doubt overwhelm us and defeat us. A challenge looked upon as under God’s construction will grow us, change us for the good, strengthen us and, most importantly, put God in control. When we relinquish ourselves to God being in control, we will not be out of control – I.e., allow a challenge to overwhelm us.
Our God of forgiveness and grace is not intent on hurting us. Thus, any (and all) challenges we face, and recognize as God putting us under construction, are positive encounters with adversity through which we can depend on God, instead of doubt ourselves and our abilities.
The most miraculous result of my move is this. Overwhelmed is no longer in my personal vocabulary. Under construction is its replacement. One final thought – the beauty of under construction is when the challenge is behind us, today finds us stronger Christians and tomorrow’s inevitable challenges no longer threaten us. After all, the work zone of God allowing us to be under construction solely, and SOULy, builds on His promise: “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13) NIV
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 