“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
– James 1:2-4
This past week I have gone through some very trying times—the Devil’s hand has been having its prime work done with disdain. One of my missions professors, a few weeks ago, told our class that once we accept our calling that the Devil will try to rip it from us, and that God will allow it to fulfill James 1:2-4. At the time, when he told us that, I was thinking to myself I’ve already accepted my calling and I think I’m doing fine so far—no doubts, not trials or temptations to push me in another direction. I’m good! I think it’s in those moments of confidence that God chuckles to Himself at what is to come.
Well, this week it came. Hard! Monday, start of my week: wake up, shower, and do my devotions while the coffee is brewing. This has (thankfully) become a ritual for me. However, on that day, during my time of intimacy with my Father, I was being bombarded with everything that I had to get done: papers to write, blogs to post, deadlines to make, documents to complete, etc, etc. Reluctantly, I cut my devotion time short and began cranking out homework.
(Some have said that the last semester of one’s college career is a breeze—take the easiest classes like badminton, have virtually zero homework, and chill on your couch until the weekend that will most likely be filled with friends, parties, and making memories. Whoever said that needs to be corrected…preferably by physical harm.)
While I was curled over the keyboard of my laptop, I got a phone call from my job. It was President’s Day, and they were expecting a huge crowd; therefore, I was the one they called to come in and help them out. I probably sounded confused because I wanted so badly to just sit at my desk and do my homework (my mom would be proud to hear that statement), but I didn’t know how to tell my boss, “No.” I hung up the phone, got ready, and made the treacherous drive into work. I was blaring my music and singing along, like I always do, but a whelm of stress bombarded my melodies. Everything that I had to get done for my classes, everything that I need to do for The Race, and on top of that I now had to work a 12-hour shift that would likely be satiated with rude customers, pressure-filled computer work, and the time-line ticking with no way to turn it back.
Now, to most who know me, tears do not come easy for these eyes. Yes, I cry at things that severely impact me; but for something smaller, I choose to deal with it in a different way. Which can be, and is, an objective statement, but my still-growing tear ducts preface this story.
With that being said, my eyes started to well up at the thought of the severity of the deadlines. I tried to suppress my emotions because I was turning onto the street of my job and would immediately be faced with a dozen people asking me what was wrong and if I was alright—all of which I didn’t want to address. I began reciting over and over and over, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” But this only made the tears come even more quickly. I started rebuking Satan in the name of Jesus and reciting more Scripture to combat the Devil, but the damage was already done and I was well on my way to a breakdown. Trying to gather myself as I walked through the door, one of the other workers noticed my attempt at drying my tears and told our boss. He wasn’t convinced of my sobby-sentence of, “I’m fine. I’ll work.”
He sent me home with a sorrowful, “Get better.”
Sobbing all the way home, I continued to rebuke the Devil and recite Scripture. I then called my dad to receive some comforting words, and through that conversation I was reminded of the similarity of my earthly father’s love to that of my Heavenly Father’s. Romans 8:38-39 were the verses that I clung to because with the knowledge and belief that “nothing can separate us from the love of God,” it doesn’t matter what I go through since He is always with me.
By the time I got home, and was almost dried out of tears, I settled into my chair and began thanking God for the blessings disguised in the trials. I looked up from my journal to gather my thoughts and fixated on my roommates desk of which she had posted Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Yet again, tears began to flow: this time, from God’s gracious love and peace.
“Even though it would be easy to let this troubled, devil-filled world undo us, we are not afraid. We can put up with Satan’s rage, because we know that through Jesus Christ, his doom is certain. Jesus is on our side! Through Him we have been given the Holy Spirit’s gifts. This knowledge and faith enable us to give up earthly possessions, our families, and even our lives for him. Remember that our bodies are only temporal; they can be killed in the midst of conflict and violence. God’s truth and his kingdom abide forever. They are eternal.”
– Martin Luther’s Reformation hymn
