Month: April 2015

“Too many interruptions, I can’t take it anymore!” ——– Journal of reflection 4/22/2015

As spring season is here, tree and flowers again display the wonderful power of God. This reminds me of king David exclaimed in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands 諸天述說神的榮耀,穹蒼傳揚他的手段”. Yes, it is a beautiful season and the most enjoyable time of the year. In fact, I like it the most because, as a person likes fishing and outdoor activities, this is the time that I can go out fishing. 🙂

To feed my hobby, my wife grants me an opportunity to stop by a local creek last weekend to try my luck of trout fishing. Due to previous rains, water in the creek was high and swift. So, I decided to stay shore-bounded as I don’t want to risk myself to become the food of fish 🙂 The trouble is, as usual, trees and bushes are all around the banks of the creek. As a result, my fishing line would frequently be trapped in the tree branches or bushes before it goes to my desired location. It is really frustrating and annoying, to say the least. After losing several lines and hooks, I finally said, “Forget it, I can’t take it anymore! It is just plainly too many interruptions.”

This headache experience prompts me a question, “Is our life always smooth sailing without interruptions?” “Definitely not”, I said to myself, because Jesus already told us that in this world we will have trouble. Coincidentally, I had a chance to chat with a truth seeker on last Sunday during lunch time, after worship service. She said, “I didn’t realize that there are still difficulties and obstacles lie ahead after becoming a believer in God.” “I thought life would be smooth sailing afterwards as God is protecting us, right?” I smiled and responded, “There are always difficulties and troubles in our life since we are in this world and we are sinners from the beginning”.

The truth is God wants to mold us to become the image of His son, Jesus Christ. Various environments and situations are therefore used by God to train and to mold us. These situations could be in forms of interruptions, difficulties and sufferings to our life journey. When encountering them, we may be frustrated and deeply troubled. However, we can’t say, “I can’t take it anymore!” since it is God’s will to our journey of life. Someone used to say that the moment you say “I can’t take it anymore”, God will give you more until you can take it! Therefore, don’t say that if you don’t want more interruptions. Interesting thought! 🙂

When we study the Bible, we will discover many God’s servants endure trials and sufferings. Apostle Paul is one of them. Actually, in the 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul described his sufferings in detail, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 被猶太人鞭打五次,每次四十減去一下;被棍打了三次,被石頭打了一次,遇著船壞三次,一晝一夜在深海裡。 又屢次行遠路,遭江河的危險、盜賊的危險、同族的危險、外邦人的危險、城裡的危險、曠野的危險、海中的危險、假弟兄的危險。(2 Corinthians 11:24-26)”. To me, they are really too much. 🙁 In light of these sufferings and interruptions to his journey of ministry, can Paul said, “I can’t take it anymore?I think he can, but he didn’t! From here I can see the reason why God entrusts His ministry of “preaching to the gentiles” to him and sure enough, Paul is our live example in submitting to God’s will.

My dear brothers and sisters, oftentimes we complain life interruptions and sufferings by saying that “I can’t take it anymore!” But, do we discern closely what God’s will upon us is, when situation is against us? “Do we always do things that are pleasing to the Lord?” Hope this could give you a fruit of thought.

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Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my personal view; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.