“Fun” Friday: Learning to Expect the “unexpected”
by: Debbie Waltz
Welcome Back, Readers~
Let me begin this post by saying I’m not a big fan of change.
As a part of the disabled community, I enjoy having my routines to fall back on. They give me a sense of stability in my disabled life by knowing what comes next or what to expect in my daily schedule. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go according to plan. That’s why it’s important to “expect the unexpected” and be flexible. These experiences allow us to “exercise” our faith muscles and fully trust God. After 42 years, this remains a struggle for me because I have a tendency to rely on myself to be as “independent” as possible in today’s society.
Still, that isn’t what Jesus wants for us. As Christians, he wants us to rely on Him. Because he realizes that this goes against our nature, he allows trials to come-leaving us with 2 choices–rely on him or turn away. Most of us are familiar with James 1:2-5, which says, “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..”
But do we really understand what that means? I’ll be the first to admit I don’t. I don’t see how the pieces all fit together. But God does. And that’s good enough for me!
Finally, let me leave you with one more verse from John 15: 4-5, it says: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Editor’s note:
I apologize if these ramblings don’t make much sense. When I first sat down to write today’s blog. I had one particular idea and then it turned into another. This is reminiscent of how my week has turned out.