"This is just a crappy school year". That came last night from Wyatt, my 16 year old son. He was worn out from football practice, tired from homecoming weekend, and was facing a rough draft of a paper...due today.
I attempted to insert a teaching moment but it's one he heard before. These past two years have been tough...blah blah...my current job is hard....blah blah....it's times like these....blah blah blah. You'll look back on these tough days....blah blah blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Truth be told, I'm not sure I would have listened to myself last night. When the world swirls around us and the pressure builds, someone chirping away isn't always welcome. I was offering a little wisdom borne of experience having circled this planet enough to learn that the toughest times usually produce the most growth. It's not fun or apparent but when we've got some distance in the rear view mirror we can see what has been brought to our lives.
Would I have arranged for my dream job to end in February of last year? Was the gnawing stress of finding a job in a downturn much fun? Being subjected to the humbling experience of being a total newbie in another industry wasn't something I would have chosen. Having the feeling of near incompetence for months before learning a new language and process was gut wrenching.
And--in retrospect---all things that were very, very good for me. My base knowledge has grown SO much, I have acquired experience that has totally raised my game. And, all the while, I was feeling the bumps, bruises, and battering along the way while not realizing growth was occurring.
More truth: Anything worth something costs something. What you will pick up in hard times will serve you better and farther than anything gained in golden times. I've written about the rocks in the river times when what seemed to be the worst times turned out to be the most exciting, exhilarating, joyous times we remember.
Bottom line: God's got you covered. He knows your beginning from your end and everything in between. It's not random, it's ordered---it's not chance, it's divined. You---and me---have to just trust and know that when we arrive on the other side of the stretch of unemployment, learning curve, 60 hour workweek, or paper---we'll be a little wiser for the experience.
And totally blessed in ways we couldn't have planned.
Luke 2:16-20
10 hours ago
4 comments:
What a great way to end your post. God really does have our backs. He watches over us each and every day. He know where we are going and will guide us to happiness if this is our intent. Plus, who doesn't want happiness right? You hit the nail on the head with this one.
Sweet post. You've got your self a regular here!
I've just started to think about some of the 'rocks in the river' times and realized that God is sovereign over all of those times in my life. It's great to look back and see how He was at work when I didn't realize it.
I've got a praise to share with you, Danny. This weekend will be one year at my church! God is awesome. I remember emailing you a long time ago and you suggested some churches but I'm glad I'm at the one that I go to - and it was in His timing, too.
Thanks Danny, Just the perfect words I needed to hear.
Danny,
Great message to read and absorb. Which doesn't always work in those tough learning and growth moments. Sometimes it's not until later that we fully see what the good was in those "tough" moments. And that's okay...It's all part of the journey, our own personal journey...and one that is so good to have God along beside us...
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