“Total commitment to whatever God wants. Such a beautiful way to live, because you learn that to accept whatever comes along. You are never disturbed, because you are always expecting to be disturbed. The man who is always disturbed is the man who never expects to be disturbed; he doesn’t really plan disturbances into his life. Thus, he is very disturbed whenever disturbance comes. But the man who is never disturbed is the one who is always expecting disturbances. So when a disturbance comes it doesn’t disturb him, because he is expecting it.”
—Pastor Chuck Smith
Disturbances. Add disappointments. Expect the unexpected. Trials of all sorts.
I wonder how far can this be taken without becoming a pessimist. Yet a Believer has Hope. A pessimist believes that this world is as bad as it could be and that evil will ultimately prevail over good. No hope!
The Believer’s Hope is Jesus. We’ll have trials in this world. But our Peace comes from living in Jesus, obedience to His Word, and “overcoming the world.” It’s a process. It takes time.
More time for some, like me. Still finding myself irritated at some interruptions. Not always. Just sometime. Disturbances I didn’t expect. I feel an irritation. Uncontrolled it shows and grows.
“Pray!” is what “they” say.
Deep breath. At myself and my irritation. And at what “they” say.
And Spirit brings a recollection1 of what Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian Assembly of Believers in Jesus:
. . .we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God. . .
LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
- It’s not always as instantaneous as I make it sound. Too many times I let things bother me, grumble and complain to myself, and display irritation in the way I handle things. Then Spirit of GOD prevails. . . ↩︎
Jonah’s Song 