*By Debbi Anderson, Education Lead, Conservative Ladies of Washington
It says in the Bible that God does not give us more than we can bear. I pondered that for a while and thought, that just can’t be. Right now, I am positive I am trying to handle more than I can bear. This stuff going on in my life has nothing to do with the way America is running. That just became a backdrop for me these last weeks. I think…er, I know…that I am at the end of my rope. I think I can make a pretty accurate statement and say that all of us are being bombarded with more than we can handle. We have to handle America, the incompetent, fully infirmed Resident Biden, the public schools, more forced reductions from our salaries, mandated vaccines, losing jobs. You would think that the rest of our lives would be going well. Come on, God! Give me a break! You can protect my health, my home, my business. You promised!
Did He? I looked it up just to throw it in God’s face (not really, it’s just how I felt; I’m kind of hiding under a bush right now). Here’s what I Corinthians 10:13 says,
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you maybe able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Darn. I wasn’t quoting it correctly. We won’t be tempted beyond what we are able. Really? I wish I could say a calmness came over me as I read this. It didn’t. I got angry. I was kind of, sort of, maybe hanging on to His promise that I can handle all this. Maybe He’s talking about my response to all this horribleness. I may be tempted to return tit for tat, and meet evil with evil, to let my sinful body has its way in handling the world. But I can count on His strength to help me endure. I just don’t see a promise in that verse that life won’t be hard. Maybe I need to keep looking?
I have a running joke going on with my mom. My dog Sweet Pea loves to bark. She sits on the back of the couch and barks at anything outside that moves. My mom yells at her. I praise her. The difference is, if Sweet Pea’s barking has stopped one person with wrong intent from coming to our front door, I’ll take it. I don’t know that, but I’m always willing to give Sweet Pea the benefit of the doubt. We just don’t know the full story. I don’t think God is full of glee at what is happening in America. I think He’s full of sorrow for what His beloved people are enduring, how His precious children are facing evil indoctrination in a place that should have safety. I also don’t think He caused one bit of these trials we are facing. He hasn’t removed His hand. He has not stopped it, despite our pleas. Or has He? Are we seeing just a part of what the evil is? Maybe He is protecting us from the full onslaught. We won’t know this until we see Him face to face. We don’t know the full story. How do I know this? I kept reading in I Corinthians. 13:12 says,
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Ok, I’m feeling a bit better now. We need to hold onto our faith, our strength, each other, our courage, as we continue to face catastrophic events. We need to keep from compromising ourselves and keep to the truth. We need to remember we don’t know the full picture. And, finally, we need to remember when we’re at the end of our rope, we may be exactly where we should be.
We need to keep from compromising ourselves and keep to the truth.
A very religious man was once caught in rising floodwaters. He climbed onto the roof of his house and trusted God to save. Him. A neighbor came by in a canoe and said, “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll paddle to safety.” “No thanks,” replied the religious man. I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me.”
A short time later the police came by in a boat. “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll take you to safety.” “No thanks,” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me.”
A little time later a rescue services helicopter hovered overhead, let down a rope ladder and said, “The waters will soon be above your house. Climb the ladder and we’ll fly you to safety.” “No thanks,” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me.”
All this time the floodwaters continued to rise, until soon they reached above the roof and the religious man drowned. When he arrived at heaven, he demanded an audience with God. Ushered into God’s throne room, he said, “Lord, why am I here in heaven? I prayed for you to save me, I trusted you to save me from that flood.” “Yes, you did, my child,” replied the Lord. “And I sent you a canoe, a boat, and a helicopter. But you never got in.”
We may be swinging from that end of the rope, but there are things going on. Good things. We can still be part of that. Grab onto what you can. Be a part of the rising voices making a difference, force your own School Board to back down from masks and vax, fight the laws that threaten your livelihood. It’s not over. God is at work, and so are His people. My situation hasn’t lifted any. Like many of you, I’m needing to find a new home and I’m experiencing many unwanted changes, but there are still things to do, to say, to write, to join, to fight.
I needed this today. I needed to remember who is still in control. Thanks for walking this path with me.
