Bad Theology and Good Plans

Does it ever seem like when you're already functioning at max capacity, super inconvenient things begin to happen, as well?  "When it rains, it pours," comes to mind.

Headed out of town for back to back trips?  How about the house floods right before you leave?

House flood isn't enough of a mess?  How about the kitchen drain backs up the night before your super early flight?

Wedding week with family and friends headed in?  How about a raging sinus infection?

College friends of the bride and groom staying in the farm house for the weekend?  How about the well pump goes out the night before the wedding?

Wedding morning (outdoor wedding and tent reception)?  How about epic rains (it's been a theme this Spring) and a flooded tent the morning of?

I will admit to asking the Coach on several occasions, "What are we doing WRONG?"

In his typical patient and calm response, he said, "I think you have a theology problem."

Of course, poor decisions often have consequences.  As the Coach often reminds our kids, "Life is hard enough, don't be stupid."  But many of the difficulties we face come because we live in a fallen world and things are just broken.  Houses flood, drains back up, we get sick when our bodies are tired, pumps fail, rain comes when you'd rather it not.  It's just part of life.  No one is out to get me or punish me for something I've done wrong.

It's taken me a lot of years to unravel my belief that God was out to strike me every time I made a mistake.  Or that if I just did the right things my life wouldn't experience difficulty.

However, Jesus promises trials for His followers.  He doesn't say "do everything right and bad things won't happen" (like we often see in the Old Testament), but instead, if you follow Me you WILL have hard things. It's a guarantee.  And along with the promise of hard things, He also promises the comfort of the Holy Spirit and purpose IN the hard things.  That's quite a promise.

Thankfully, when these things happen - even if it's more often than usual - I can choose how to respond.  I can lament my misfortune and ask WHY ME?  Or I can be like the Coach, take it in stride, do the next thing, and trust that God has good plans for my life.

Good plans.

So maybe the most amazing part of it all is that God works all things together FOR OUR GOOD and for His glory.  The inconveniences, the messes, the results of a fallen world... He uses it all.  Taking time to reflect on this makes me stand in awe of His power, His love for me, His sovereignty.  And a little more determined to respond with grace the next time. 

And I think it's OK after a particularly hard season to shout for all to hear, "We survived!!"