Ever been in a crisis? I think all of us have, if we’ve taken more than one trip around the sun on this big planet. Here are some thoughts I jotted down about crisis:
Sin comes to the surface in a time of crisis.
The situation (whatever it is) shocks my heart which pumps blood furiously through my veins. My “worst-case-scenario” brain jumps into the driver seat and revs the engine with a thousand different ways this situation might fly off the rails. My stomach hurts. My eyes rain.
And then, as if I need more to deal with, sin floats to the top:
Pride. What will others think?
Selfishness. I only want to be happy.
Distrust. What if God doesn’t intervene?
Worry. Cue the thousand ways this could get worse.
Rinse. Repeat.
All the ugliness of a sinful human. Oh wretched woman that I am!
So in my wrecked heart I begin to confess to my Lord. I have to lay the situation to the side because first I must take care of the dross within me. I must sit before the King and allow Him to shake up even more impurities so that I am confronted with the dirtiness of my soul. And I am forever grateful for GRACE and FORGIVENESS.
And though the situation may not change…at least not immediately…I have already received a gift: I am forgiven and made new.
And for every time this happens, He has more grace and forgiveness to give because He has the goal to make me complete in Jesus.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What do you think? Do you agree?
Hmmmm…never thought of it that way…maybe because I failed to recognize, confess, and deal with it. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂