Day Three

This morning the other shoe dropped. It's not that I expected an experiment like this to be completely free of difficulty, but this morning a situation dropped on me that is so big and wrong that I am powerless to do anything to change it. My hope was a gradual increase in the activity of the Holy Spirit in my daily life that would culminate in a remarkable change in me. Instead I have smacked into a brick wall.

It is actually not my brick wall, but my friends, which in a weird way makes me feel even more powerless. My heart is breaking for them and for what they are facing right now. My pulse is racing and my stomach is sick at the thought. There is nothing I can do. It is too huge. I just prayed and begged God to move on their behalf, pleaded for his help. He is the only hope at this point.

Maybe this should come as no surprise. Romans 8:17 says, "And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." Tough times are a guarantee when you follow God. In fact, all of the tough times in my life have served to shape me and change me more into who I know God wants me to be. It doesn't change the fact that it stinks, but there is a method to God's hand in our suffering.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 34:18-19

May the Lord give me so much more of his Holy Spirit because he is the only one with the power to overcome the tidal wave of circumstances that is threatening to crash down today.