As a ‘comfort-zoner’, if my life were a guitar, I would only allow God to play a three-simple-chord song on me, while missing out on all the painfully beautiful opportunities.
Yes, our arms never cradled our own baby. But to see God unfold the adoption as an illustration to how He’s adopting us. What a VIP seat to His grand story. God’s strumming a new song on us.
Yes, twelve years ago I trudged through my husband’s decision-making-process to accept the position as a pastor at the International Church of Bucharest. As a PK (pastor’s kid) I knew the sacrifices, and the struggles of a pastor’s family. Today, I wouldn’t change a thing. The glimpse of heaven in an International community, the growing opportunities in various ministerial aspects, the unique friendships we forged from many a nation. What a joy! God’s picking through another melodious song.
Yes, the flakes of health. God swooshed those around from side to side my entire life: my dad’s liver transplant, my mom’s major back surgery, my husband’s severe heart attack, my daughter’s Diabetes type 1, me and my own struggles. Yet, I still wouldn’t change a thing. We learned to be intentional on creating memories, and to rely solely on His grace that proves to be be sufficient in each time of need. God is capo’ing a different song.
He’s been playing on my guitar from gentle jazz to loud-and-fast ones (possibly even some tasteful country songs). All to His desire.
A little pressing invites for opportunities. A little tuning stretches us. A little strumming, finger picking, or even the pressure of the capo’ing turns noise into music.
I hate that mostly in the thick of life I bend my knees in submission to God vowing myself to make changes. I wish I learned more from moments of laughter than seasons of tears. Yet, here I am admitting that all the uncomfortable moments had their purpose: to bring God glory and to chisel me a little more, and a little more.
In this current season trust that:
God suffices the grace.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
God provides a way out in due time.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
God comforts the pain.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God transforms you in the process.
“Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4
God alone restores your strength.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10
Read & Meditate:2 Corinthians 1:3-8
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.”