Recently, a woman I thought I was helping, stole my wallet. I was crushed! I was angry, and disappointed, in myself, for not discerning her intentions; in her for misleading me and taking what wasn't hers.
In the big scheme of things, it was an inconvenience. I had to replace some documents, and in a hurry, it disrupted my routine and showed me how vulnerable I could be. It took many hours to discover what I had to do to report the theft of my wallet, to remember what was in it and to follow up on the theft. Several trips to agencies to replace important cards, calls to put alerts on my accounts, and the list went on. God is good, and it went smoothly. My life is back on track! I was able to make my flights the next weekend without dragging my lifelong accumulation of documents with me.
But the worst of it was the deep humiliation of the deception. In the end, she only got about 40 dollars. It seems she wasn't in it to steal my identity (we are still watching this one!) But I was embarrassed to find I had been tricked. I did not listen to the inner warnings. She wasn't what she seemed.
Before she bailed out of my car at the destination, I handed her a card with some websites on it to study the Bible. Maybe she just threw that with the wallet. I'll never know. But did her intentions negate my good intentions? I'm going to emphatically say, "No!" God is in the little things too. (And an emphatic, "No, I won't be taking any more requests from random strangers," as well.). I'm going to use every opportunity I have to share Jesus with the world.
This is just a little thing, in comparison to what many experience. But perhaps God is strengthening my spiritual muscles to endure something worse. I'll never forget a ladies day many years ago, and the theme of the day was "The Storms of Life." One of the other speakers made this statement, "The struggle you are going through today is preparing you for something harder." (Thank you, Iris.) I did not want to hear this. I tried to dismiss it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right.
At the time, I was looking back on what we had been through. Some difficult times had been endured. Moves I did not want to make, the loss of a much-wanted and loved child. I thought I had been through all I could put up with in this life. But God knows us. He goes through those times with us, walking with us through the fire, through the flood. Slowly and steadily, as we continue to look to Him in faith and do that 'next thing', He strengthens us. We are stronger in our Christian walk. Sometimes it is a short and intense time of persecution and suffering. Sometimes, rather than a 'sprint', it's a marathon which we cannot see the end of in this lifetime.
I love the words of this passage in Isaiah chapter 43:1-3;
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah is speaking to the Hebrew children. But I believe the principle is still true for His children. God has promised never to leave us. (Hebrews 13:5) He does not promise we won't go through fire and flood. He promises to be with us in this storm.
I just pray that my light continues to shine, no matter what the intentions of those around me. I want the world to see that it is "Jesus in me." I'm not living down here for myself. It's important that others are pointed to the One who is the answer to life. He is the life. Without Him, it is worthless.
"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13)
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