When life's not "working" . . .

I've been trying to write another blog. Confession time:  actually, I was trying to save some time by posting an old newsletter article I wrote. Well, it didn't "work"! Which, I suppose, leads me to a few thoughts. Maybe they'll be helpful to you. Let's talk about, "What do I do/feel when things don't work?"  For those of you who most often have life "work" the way you like it to, please forgive my meanderings here, but my guess is most of you will be able to relate! As usual, I'll frame this discussion around both comments/observations and, that of questions. 

Here goes . . . 

 - Do the emotions I feel when life is not working reveal anything about my spiritual/emotional maturity? Why or why not? (I am not discouraging the expression of emotion here!)

- What is the value of life working the way I would like it to? I mean, if I never (or rarely) face disappointment, are there fruits of the Spirit that I might not enjoy, like, well, all of the fruit that are described, but particularly that of patience?

- In the overall view of things, under the umbrella of the loving sovereignty of God, am I even smart enough to know what things should be "working" and "not" working?

How do I view time, especially when it relates to something that has "not worked"? That is, has my time been invested, wasted, or, just given?  How has my soul/life grown richer or poorer as I respond and reflect upon something that has "not worked"?  Through the disappointments of life do I grow as a person, or, do I wane?

Finally, let me ask, "what is the only thing truly worth working for, that, even if things don't "work" here on earth, my time has been not just spent or given, but invested? May I suggest as a starting point, Jesus' words: "Don't waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last." (John 6:27, MSG). Of course this leads to a question, at least for the purposes of this blog!  Jesus' listeners (and we) say, "Well, what do we do then to get in on God's works?" Jesus said, "Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God's works." (John 6:28-29, MSG).   

So . . .  a final exhortation, taking the direction of Jesus' words in John 6, (answering our starting question of "what do we do when life's not working?") Friends, do this: Eat His flesh. Drink His blood. Find Life in Him. That way, when life (little "l") is not working out the way we might imagine it should, Big L (Jesus, who Is Life), will nourish you now and forever.  May God bless you richly!