2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (English Standard Version)
8For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Putting the scripture at the start kind of gives away my post doesn't it? Oh well, the above scripture was brought to my attention by John Piper in When I Don't Desire God (a book that I am finding to be extremely useful). He mentioned it in reference to Martin Luther, the protestant reformer.
I mention it in reference to Lauren Heile, the interior design student. She is working on a project due soon, and has spent many hours working on her computer in order to be able to use the laser cutter (yes UT has one of these). This will save her many hours and much labor, but it requires a good amount of time to set up on your computer. Just before her turn to use the machine, it breaks. She now has a useless computer design that she spent a lot of time on, and much more work to complete before her project deadline, without the help of a laser cutter. Doesn't sound like too big a deal, but it is frustrating, especially to Lauren who spent hours on it and was counting on it.
What about you? Has the bottom ever fallen out? I am waiting on a job offer. Thoughts like this are preparing me for the possibility of a 'no.' If I don't get this job, I will be bummed. It will hurt my self-esteem and make me tempted to despair of even getting a job. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes life is frustrating. But does the bottom ever really fall out for the christian?
Let me say this first. Struggles are real. Notice what Paul didn't write. He didn't say, "we complained a lot but we were just whining. Other people have worse." He acknowledged that it was a tough spot, a "peril." But he didn't stay there.
He looked through the struggle. He saw God in it. Paul is an excellent example here of trusting in God in the struggle. It is easy to claim God's sovereignty over a marriage, but quite a bit tougher to claim it over a divorce. Yet it is the same God in both cases. Study God's immutability (sameness). He doesn't change. He is firm. He truly is the solid rock when all other grounds are sinking sand. He is our firm foundation. He is faithful and true.
Whole books are written about these topics, and I know that I am reaching the limits of a blog reader's attention span. But I want to draw our attention here. God uses struggles. Do not waste your struggles (probably a Piper quote). Set-backs and let-downs are the times when the difference in us as christians can really show. Take some time. Feel the pain and acknowledge it. Pray as the psalmist and let God know how you feel. But submit your feelings to truth in the end. Trust in our God. Do not deny his control when you don't feel it. Trust in our God. He is good, and faithful. He uses struggles. Then let your life as you struggle be a witness of your faith to a world in the midst of struggling toward hell. God will use your struggles.
*The other laser cutter started working. God delivered Lauren out of her peril. I am still in the valley on mine, but waiting to see and striving to trust that God is in control.
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