Jesus said, "In this world you will have troubles..."In those seven words, Jesus identified a pattern of life that each of us are all too familiar with. We turn the key each morning and we drive out into this massive highway called, the world. We are cruising down the road of life at a pretty good rate of speed and bam - a tire goes flat. We shake our fist in the air as if this was not suppose to happen.
Life is just one big road filled with unwanted guests and - a few great surprises. How in the "world" do you ever prepare for it? What kind of "insurance" will protect us from such troubles?
Well, maybe the answer isn't found in the insurance business, but maybe the answer comes from the "assurance" business. Jesus did assure us that we would have troubles in this life. And Jesus also assured us that in this world we would not find peace. And so I mumble, "I don't like that kind of assurance. I like the kind of assurance that works in my favor."
I think that as Christians we are conditioned to easily accept the good surprises in life and call it a "blessing." But there is also this responsibility, as a Christ follower, to enrich our commitments to Him during those other moments when unwanted surprises test our character.
Bottom line: Unwanted surprises come into our life to help elevate our trust in the God of the high-way and low-way. As that old familiar song goes, "He gives and takes away. But blessed be the name."
Not sure what intersection you find yourself at today, but keep your eyes open because God has you on this road (like me) filled with surprises to grow our character. Buckle up!
