Murphy's Law
Someone lied to me about something very important, and then they doubled down on their lie when they thought they still had a chance to get away with it. That's how my day started, and it went downhill from there. My bank account was accidentally overdrawn (completely my fault). My car nearly ran out of gas far away from a pump and without a working bank card. I tried to pick up my children from school at the wrong time. We had no milk, no bread, no butter at home. All of our staple food had run out. The beef which I picked up earlier in the day did not come as I ordered, and I had trouble getting it all into the freezer. We were late to a planned evening event so we missed the dinner and the
kids did not get fed. To top it off, the planned event cost money
(which I did not know) and I did not bring cash with me. We finished our event at 8:00, and I still had hungry children and no food at home - except a half a cow frozen solid in the freezer. To top it off, I needed to complete 7 more hours worth of work for my job.
Rarely, and I mean very rarely, do I cry. But the compounding issues of the day were weighing on me, and I could feel the stress welling up within me. Of course, my husband was gone. So, I needed to bear this weight alone. My kids could tell something was wrong. So, I explained that there are times when we experience big problems in life and times when the many little problems pile on and make it feel like one gigantic problem. The day was the definition of Murphy's Law - if something could go wrong, it would.
One-by-one, God resolved each of my problems - not in some grand miraculous way, but most certainly by His hand. The lie was exposed. I made it to a gas station and found $20 in my console. My children were picked up, even if a little late. My son brought money to the event and the kids got cookies. After the event, my now driving son, dropped me off at Meijer while he put gas in the car with my Meijer credit card and bought the children McDonalds with his own money. Then he brought my credit card back in to the store so I could pay for the groceries. We drove home with full stomachs, food, and plenty of gas. This morning, the money in our bank accounts was in the correct place and someone offered to loan me a meat grinder so I could fix the butcher's mistake.
But last night as I walked through the aisles of the grocery store, the weight of the world felt very heavy. I talked to God down every aisle. None of my problems were overwhelming on their own. I reminded myself that I'm not a Jew in the Holocaust or a hospital patient with a terminal illness. I'm in a store with a lot of food and the means to buy it. I had healthy children waiting for me in the car and God (for some reason) picked this day just for me. I thanked God for taking care of me when I couldn't seem to get anything right. As I was walking past the deli, it hit me. Who do I think I am?
I think I can do anything. I get A's in all my classes. I manage my money well and invest for the future. I plan out my weeks so that there is always enough food in the house and gas in the car. I organize my children's education so that they have the best opportunities and set them up for future success. I organize paperwork, juggle schedules, and make sure everyone is prepared. Even though I love God, I still think I can do it all. But I cannot. I'm not nearly as good as I think I am. In fact, I'm a failure. I really do need God, not just for the big issues, like salvation. I mean, I NEED God, every moment of every day. I need Him to help me organize, schedule, manage, succeed.
I've become so accustomed to leaning on my own self to achieve that I have completely missed the mark. The only reason I can do anything is because God enables me to do it.
A day leaning on my own abilities was a complete debacle. I failed. And God reminded me that all credit goes to Him. It is one thing to give God credit with your mouth, but a completely different scenario to offer it up continuously in your heart.
I often pray that God will teach me lessons quickly. I do not like to suffer. I want to be a quick and studious learner. Yesterday was a lesson I hope to never repeat or forget.
One-by-one, God resolved each of my problems - not in some grand miraculous way, but most certainly by His hand. The lie was exposed. I made it to a gas station and found $20 in my console. My children were picked up, even if a little late. My son brought money to the event and the kids got cookies. After the event, my now driving son, dropped me off at Meijer while he put gas in the car with my Meijer credit card and bought the children McDonalds with his own money. Then he brought my credit card back in to the store so I could pay for the groceries. We drove home with full stomachs, food, and plenty of gas. This morning, the money in our bank accounts was in the correct place and someone offered to loan me a meat grinder so I could fix the butcher's mistake.
But last night as I walked through the aisles of the grocery store, the weight of the world felt very heavy. I talked to God down every aisle. None of my problems were overwhelming on their own. I reminded myself that I'm not a Jew in the Holocaust or a hospital patient with a terminal illness. I'm in a store with a lot of food and the means to buy it. I had healthy children waiting for me in the car and God (for some reason) picked this day just for me. I thanked God for taking care of me when I couldn't seem to get anything right. As I was walking past the deli, it hit me. Who do I think I am?
I think I can do anything. I get A's in all my classes. I manage my money well and invest for the future. I plan out my weeks so that there is always enough food in the house and gas in the car. I organize my children's education so that they have the best opportunities and set them up for future success. I organize paperwork, juggle schedules, and make sure everyone is prepared. Even though I love God, I still think I can do it all. But I cannot. I'm not nearly as good as I think I am. In fact, I'm a failure. I really do need God, not just for the big issues, like salvation. I mean, I NEED God, every moment of every day. I need Him to help me organize, schedule, manage, succeed.
I've become so accustomed to leaning on my own self to achieve that I have completely missed the mark. The only reason I can do anything is because God enables me to do it.
A day leaning on my own abilities was a complete debacle. I failed. And God reminded me that all credit goes to Him. It is one thing to give God credit with your mouth, but a completely different scenario to offer it up continuously in your heart.
I often pray that God will teach me lessons quickly. I do not like to suffer. I want to be a quick and studious learner. Yesterday was a lesson I hope to never repeat or forget.
John 15:5 reminds us:
I am
the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then
you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.
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