God Needs a Pitcher

Perhaps the biggest "why me" question of all stems from this line of thinking ... "But I'm a Christian!"  Ever caught yourself saying that?  Yeah, I'm right there with you!  Where did we get this notion that receiving Christ as our personal Lord and Savior meant we would have no problems and live happily (or lemonlessly) ever after?  I'm wondering if part of the problem is that we tend to view salvation as an ending instead of a beginning.  The typical church service primarily focuses on messages that "catch the fish", but if it stops there all you end up with is a smelly room!  You and I might realize this but a brand new born again Christian doesn't.  You don't just meet Jesus, give Him your heart, and that's it.  How silly!  You wouldn't view a meeting with a potential friend or mate this way, and yet isn't that exactly what has begun ... a new relationship?  Phil 2:12 says we are to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling."  Heb 12:2 says Christ is "the author and finisher of our faith."  2 Cor. 3:8 says we are "constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another."  All these scriptures, and many others, clearly depict a process of growth and change that stems from being saved.  So salvation is the first step in the process.  Then we enter a phase of being transformed into Christ's image, a phase that lasts for the rest of our lives.

Possibly another reason why we have this idea that Christians aren't supposed to suffer is the emphasis placed on being an overcomer, a conqueror, and triumphant in Christ.  This is VERY true and yet can be VERY misleading.  Look at all three of those words again.  Don't they imply there will be something to overcome, something to conquer, a situation to triumph in?  Undoubtedly Satan was defeated at the cross, but why would Paul spend the entire last chapter of Ephesians discussing the armor we are to use to fight the enemy if we didn't need it?  Countless other places in the Bible direct us in how to overcome Satan ... Rev. 12:11 comes to mind.  Let's let Jesus settle this issue, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace.  In the world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE: but be of good cheer!  For I have overcome the world!  (John 16:33).

Imagine you have joined the Army.  You enlist and take an oath to serve your country.  It's peace time so you aren't worried about actually going to war.  You go through rigorous physical, mental, and emotional testing and training.  And then, unexpectedly, war breaks out.  You are given your orders and they are tough.  You are scared and possibly look for some loop hole to get out of that particular assignment.  After much exhausted effort you realize you are stuck and have to serve.  Now the decision is up to you, will you barely get by or will you be all that you can be.

I imagine you can see where I am going with this.  Joining the Army is very much like joining God's Army.  You have that initial encounter with Christ and pray for salvation making a personal commitment to serve Him.  You attend church and read your Bible. You face a few small battles and begin to learn a little about spiritual warfare.  You begin to experience the faithfulness of God.  And then you are given a tough assignment.  So tough you start to think, "This can't be from God!"  You begin to come against this assignment with prayer, and you plead with God telling Him why you can't do it and pointing out all your inadequacies.  Finally you come to the realization that, atleast for now, you are stuck and must serve where you've been assigned.  You too have a choice to barely get by or to be all you can be.  However you also realize that in order to be all you can be you need Him more than ever before. 

It is important to remember that everyone who enlists in God's Army is assigned a mission.  Eph. 4:11 tells us God appoints some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  We don't get to choose.  He does.  John 21:18 illustrates the fact that baby Christians get to choose but mature Christians are appointed .  I often laugh about how some are called to the pulpit while others are called to the trenches!  Why is that?  Why doesn't God place all His people at Disney World having the time of their lives?  Wouldn't everyone look at us and think "Wow, they are so special, clearly chosen people who are happy and carefree ... I want what they have!"  The answer to this question is in 2 Peter 3:9 "not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."  If God desires all to be saved then it makes complete sense why all His people are not found in the same place ... or the same circumstances.  How would we reach others for Christ?!  2 Cor. 1:4 says "who comforts us in every trouble so that we may also be able to comfort those who are in any kind of distress, with the comfort with which we ourselves were comforted by God." 

As I was seeking God about my own calling, and not seeing at all how it related to my status as a "special needs mom",  He showed me that indeed this was my assignment.  Tracing God's hand back over my life ... my love for Him, my love of children, my desire to become a teacher, my love for the Bible ... I began to see how He has been preparing me for this all along.  Then He began to show me the opportunities I had to minister healing for the past, joy for today, and hope for the future in so many lives.  Of course God could send a pastor or another Christian to do this job, but who do you think someone like this is more likely to listen to ... someone who knows the Word or someone who has personally experienced the Word in a similar situation.

Have you too been handed a difficult situation and wondered how this was going to bring any glory to God ... what could possibly be the purpose for all this pain?  Just remember, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH IT, YOU CAN'T MINISTER TO IT!  Many times our ministry is born out of the pain of our experiences.  We find we have a heart for people going through the same circumstances because we can identify with them.

So the question is, are we willing to be vessels God can use even if it means it may cost us something?  No one willingly signs up for these tasks, but I believe the more sense that cannot be made out of a trial the more you can be assured of God's plan and purpose in it.  Also remember that although it seems the lemon is robbing you of something, don't forget everything you are gaining from it.  The gains may not be considered earthly blessings because they are not tangible, but they are heavenly blessings that are eternal.  "You are the light of the world ... Let your light so shine before men" Matt. 5: 14&16.  We are His light in this world , and He places us where He wants to shine for His glory.  If your light has been placed in a difficult situation, He must have very high confidence in you.  The light that shines the brightest is the one placed in the most darkness.  LET HIS LIGHT SHINE THROUGH YOU!