Day 8 with the cast on my right forearm – trying to stay in shape is interesting. It’s waterproof, so the doc said swimming is ok as long as my fingers don’t carry a load. It was the clumsiest & slowest 20 minutes of my life…like swimming with a brick duct-taped to my arm! Actually everything in my life is more difficult. It makes me feel much more appreciative, actually…that is, after I work through the initial frustration and irritation, and give it over to Him to create something better.
We know through Scripture that God is not the inventor of the various sufferings we face in this life… much less the evils that tempt us and pin us down from being who he created us to be. However, he certainly desires to use the limitations and frailties and crappy circumstances that happen to us along the way in this broken life in order to draw us closer into his image…his intended purpose for us in relationship with him.
“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:2-5)
Today, father, please draw me close to you…please help me to redirect my frustrations with the trivial difficulties of my life into opportunities to develop endurance, character, and hope from you. Amen.
