Janice Crow

Sept Reflections ‘09

You know what it feels like, don’t you…that fear of the unknown when the pink slip comes…that worry over what to do now…the feeling that you were somehow to blame or even deserved it. Your stomach is tied in knots and your head pounds relentlessly. How will you eat? Who'll pay the mortage? You feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and it’s hard to breathe.

Throw on top of that a gravely ill family member and your inability to do much of anything to help and now the guilt is heaped upon fear. Though you try your best, you can’t keep up at home, your career is headed into the tank, and everyone’s answer is “just don’t worry about it”. Now you can add frustration to your triple scoop discouragement sundae. Why not top it off with a little regret and a dollop of depression for good measure?

Whatever you do, resist the urge to look to this world for answers. Our politicians have taken leave of their senses and it seems that in order to be admitted into the hallowed halls of Congress these days, you must check your brains at the door. So don’t count on any help from Washington.

Sometimes life just doesn’t make any sense.

Picture Noah. He endured the laughter and the criticism of the people of his day to do what God commanded. He built the ark, exactly as God said, and although he was safe in the ark, he was trapped in the boat until something changed. What’s that rainbow all about anyway?

Elijah‘s reputation was on the line. He had been praying for rain. The valley had been dry for years. The land lay waste and dust blew where vineyards should have grown and cattle should have grazed. The people needed relief. But what good’s a cloud the size of a man’s hand?

Paul had dedicated his life to preaching the gospel and had boarded a ship to take God’s message to Rome. Here he was, in God’s will, doing God’s work, and now he’s shipwrecked, hanging on to a piece of wood. How is this fair?

Noah’s rainbow, Elijah‘s cloud, and Paul’s “raft” were just symbols of hope. Noah just had to ride it out until the waters receded and the ark came to rest. Elijah had to trust that although the tiny cloud didn’t look promising to anyone else, it was hope of God’s answer in time. Paul had to just hold on and use his “hope” as transportation to his next mission field.

Sometimes you just have to COPE and HOPE until God throws you a ROPE.

Janice