Need a little bit of a push?

There is probably not one of us that would be able to say we haven't endured at least a bit of suffering of some sort in our lives. At one point or another, we will go through something that challenges us beyond our capacity. What our response is in those challenging times usually helps us to realize where our focus has been directed - what has our attention and even our affection. We might not always view suffering as a positive thing - mostly because there is a whole lot of unpleasantness in it! We might not always feel like we came away from it in an 'unscathed' manner - probably because our emotions are a bit raw, and our lives have been in upheaval for a bit longer than we might have wanted. Truth be told, our suffering is actually good for us, even when we think it might not have been the most rewarding thing to endure.

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. (Psalm 119:71-72)

Our suffering actually helps us to see what it is we have been paying so much attention to - it uncovers or unmasks our true focus. What happens to most of us when we go through hard times? Don't we find ourselves actually pressing into Jesus just a bit harder? We might even find ourselves dusting off that Bible that had gathered a bit too much dust on the corner of our nightstand! We get into it, finding promises we cling to, holding onto each one like it was our lifeline. Guess what - it is! The Word of God isn't just for the good times or Sunday sermons. It is a life-giving source for our daily walk - both in the good times and in the hard ones. We just forget that from time to time, allowing a little misdirection in our focus and less concentration on what actually gives us clarity, hope, and strength.

Read it again - we actually have to be taught to pay attention to God's Word! We don't just do that on our own. We need God's help to develop that attentiveness. Obedience is the result of attentiveness - we come to the place of realizing the direction we have been traveling isn't right and we adjust our course. We don't do that all on our own - we need God's 'push' on occasion to get us moving in the right direction. Most of the time our 'inattentiveness' is little more than us allowing life to get a little too busy, pushing time with God out of the 'agenda' for the day. God may not send the suffering our way, but if he allows it to come in whatever form it comes, remember he isn't going to allow it to crush us. It is a call to 'pay attention' to him, get close to him, and allow him to walk us through those 'tough times' in his strength. Just sayin!