I Can Handle an Orange!

Does this scenerio sound familiar?  You are trucking along through life.  You have hopes and dreams.  You have worked hard and made right choices to ensure that life will be good, when all of a sudden life lobs a lemon at you.  Why, why, why has this happened?  Why wasn't it a lime, or a kiwi, or an orange ... I could've handled that!

IT'S NOT FAIR!  Why is it that as far back as we can remember people have been telling us "life isn't fair", and yet when problems hit our life we find ourselves saying it anyway?  Why is it that God doesn't seem to be concerned with what is fair?  I think the first thing we have to realize is that fair is based on perspective and since every one's perspective is different what is defined as "fair" changes from person to person.

Consider this ... Is it fair that the mother of four children would miscarry her fifth child?  What about the woman who is struggling to conceive even one baby?  Is it fair that the other woman has four children when she has none?  Or how about this ... Is it fair that a couple is dealing with the day to day challenges of raising a special needs child?  What about the couple whose child has lost their battle with cancer, and they will never again care for their child's needs?

All these situations are clearly unfair.  I don't use these examples to rank unfairness in people's lives (in fact I believe we travel down a dangerous road when we start comparing lemons!)  Rather the purpose here is to illustrate how the filter through which we see every situation is tinted by our own experiences.

The bottom line is this, GOD NEVER PROMISED US FAIR, BUT HE DID PROMISE US PURPOSE.  His purpose is only revealed when we are willing to exchange our plans for His knowing that He made us, designed us, and knows better than we do what is best for us.  I think we can all agree that the most unfair thing we've ever heard is a man without sin bearing the curse of sin upon Himself to save all mankind.  Thank you Jesus for your willingness to endure what was clearly unfair! 

WHY ME?  I want to preface this segment by encouraging everyone to seek the Lord about this question.  The bigger picture of "why" pertains to all our situations, but the individual snapshots vary.  What He calls one person to do will not necessarily be what He calls someone else to do.  Because of this I'm going to personalize this segment to my own situation, but I do believe you can relate. 

Why me, God?  Why does my child have a disability?  What possible good could come from this?  I'm so thankful that when the questions came there were people around me who directed me to the word.  I'm also thankful that because of my upbringing I had complete faith in the word.  John 9:1-3 says "As He passed along, He noticed a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or His parents, that he should be born blind?  Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him." 

First, let's define "manifested" ...
1.  readily perceived by the senses, especially by sight.  2.  easily understood or recognized by the mind.  3.  to make evident or certain by showing or displaying.  Let's focus on the third definition mainly because the term "displayed" also appears in our text.

What exactly would be God's purpose in "making evident or certain by showing or displaying" His workings in this man's life?  Certainly the man benefited greatly by the power of God flowing through Jesus to heal him, but that's not all.  The answer can be found in the word "displayed" which means "to put in full view, show off".  God's manifested works were for those AROUND the man, that they would clearly see the working of God's power, the Glory of Almighty God, thus leading people to faith in Him.  God works the same way today.  We know this because Malachi 3:6 says "I am the Lord, I change not".  2 Corinthians 2:14 shows us another aspect of God showing off and putting His people on display ..."But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph (as TROPHIES of Christ's victory) and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere".  We are His trophies!!!

Isn't it clear?  Although you have been assigned the lemon and undoubtly learning from your lemon,  the lemon is not meant for only you.  It is meant for everyone around you.  It is an opportunity for God to show up and show off in a way only He can!  What an honor to be chosen by God to reveal His glory in the earth!  My Hannah and Gabe have not been cursed by God.  They have been chosen by God!  I am in awe and brought to tears every time I think about it.  This change in perspective has caused me to move away from a heavy hearted "why me" to a wondrous, humbling, and genuine expression of surprise toward God of "why me".  Ask God to help you change your perspective, to see your situation as He sees it.  He will.  In due time you won't see that lemon as a bitter cross to bear but an opportunity to share lemonade with everyone you meet.