A pile of difficulties

Yesterday I received a twitter message from a friend I follow that said, " Why is it that when life gets difficult, more difficulties and stresses get piled on?"

Good question. I sure would like to know the answer to that one.

It seems that often that is the way life is...for believers and for unbelievers. One problem hits and then another. You barely dig yourself out of one problem or stressor and another one hits. I remember telling a friend, "I really thought at some point life would get easier, but it doesn't. I want some easy for awhile!"

Well, life hasn't gotten easier. There are always problems to solve, decisions to weigh and make, and difficulties that challenge one's calm and peace. However, through all these trials and struggles God has done a work in me. (And He is still working 24/7!)

I don't know where you are in life today. I don't know what is going on in your family, in your relationships, in your ministry, or in your church. I don't know what the girls in your girls' ministry are facing. I'm sure they each have their own pile of difficulties. But here are a few things God has taught me while in the midst of a pile of difficulties.

1. Trust Him. Even when I don't see God working, He is and I have to trust that. He is present and in the middle of my circumstances. God knows what is happening in my life and every piece of that pile of difficulties.

2. Be flexible. Change is not always bad. Often the things that stress me most are when my plans are changed...and the choice to change the plan was not mine. But God has used those times of change to stretch me and push me to try something different. When plans change, when someone you counted on to teach a girls small group can't do it, when there is a conflict with the calendar, when the computer locks up and the media won't run, when...you fill in the blank....God stretches my flexibility and my creativity. I am forced to grow through the difficulties and in the end empowered by God to do something I never thought I could do.

3. Stay focused. Not focused on the problems and the difficulties, but upon Jesus. Dig deeper into God's Word looking for what He says about the problem. Every time that difficulty begins to consume your thoughts start praying and hand it back off to God. One example from my own life was a broken relationship between two family members. I kept trying to be the peacemaker and step in and "fix" it. Finally, God got my attention. My focus was to pray for both parties involved. He was going to do the work in their hearts for real change and restoration to take place. Every time I was tempted to take back their problems and try to fix it myself, I sensed God saying, "you are done here, let ME handle it."

4. Pray. It really goes without saying that we should be praying constantly during the good times and when we find ourselves in the middle of a pile of difficulties. But sometimes prayer is our last resort. I keep asking God to make prayer, my on-going conversation with Him, part of my every breath. When the stress hit, another difficulty comes into the picture....breathe...and breathe...and listen for God's voice....and wait for Him to answer.

1 Peter 4:12-13 says-

Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises amoung you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.

So, I guess I've finally reached the place where I am not so surprised when the difficulties pile on and when the fire gets hot. "Fiery ordeals" are going to be part of my life. As a believer I will be sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Now to start working on the rejoicing part...ugh!