Ok, I've heard of being a good steward of my time, talents, resources, money etc. but this is a whole new idea to me...being a good steward of the difficult circumstances God allows into my life. This is a whole new concept for me. I read about this in the books Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.
It puts a whole new perspective on the importance of responding to difficulties in a godly manner. As I think of being a good steward of my difficult circumstances, I think of Joni Earickson-Tada. She is paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a diving accident. As a result of her injury and disability, she has written numerous inspirational books, is an accomplished artist (she holds her brush/pens/pencils in her mouth), she has her own daily Christian radio program, and she runs a non-profit organization that takes old wheel chairs, refurbishes them and then donates them to people in need in third world countries. Now that is being a good steward of difficult circumstances! What's my excuse? I have none.
2 comments:
I've been having some financial issues of late and have been struggling with related fear. God
has been training me to respond to my situation in a right way. Joni Earickson-Tada is an
encouragement; likewise is the fellow you had videos of (months ago) who had neither arms or
legs, yet was able to face his day with courage. Kinda makes me feel shame for the times I
grumble. I've been reading Psalm 31. Around vs 9, David describes his trouble and his grief. He speaks of all his enemies that are pursuing him and that fear is on every side. Then in verse 14 he breaks through with, "But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. "
Oh that we would learn to trust Him. He knows the end of our days. We have all good things to look forward to in Christ.
Very well said, Donny. Related to this, I was just listening to the story of Darlene Rose Deobler. She was a WWII POW,taken from her mission post in New Guinea. Her faith grew and flourished during her time in the prison camp and on death row. God spared her life in a miraculous way. But to listen to her story just makes me ashamed that I complain about the trivial things of life like a computer that won't cooperate or car that is broken down. Here is a lady who in solitary death row, was given wormy rice to eat and as she was pushing the worms off to one side, suddenly decided that if the worms could eat it then she could too and she ate worms and all and gave thanks to God for having anything to eat at all. James Dobson says we are all "fat" spiritually here in our country and as a result we really don't seek God's face as we should. He said it will take a time of persecution or dire circumstances in our nation to make us fall on our faces and seek His face as we should as a nation. That's sad.
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