Rejoice

Rejoice

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

“WHEN YOU WAVED AT ME for the third time, I figured you might be in trouble instead of just being friendly,” he called, his boat pulling near enough to ours to talk without shouting.

“Yeah, we’re dead in the water. The motor made a loud popping noise, and now . . . nothing,” Aaron called back, as I silently thanked God for another boat on the lake, for this man’s decision to draw near, just in case, for help to arrive within minutes instead of hours.

We were first-time boat owners, and this was our first weekend on the water. Our small, circa 1993 ski boat was great for pulling the kids on a tube, when we could keep it running. It’d been a rough two days of trial and error with a touchy motor, and I was ready to sell it and be a landlubber for life.

As the Good Samaritan towed us back to shore with his ski rope, Jonny whispered, “Mom, were you praying?”

“I was. Were you?” I asked, a bit teary eyed as relief and humiliation washed over me in equal parts.

“Yes. As soon as it popped, I started praying. I knew God would help us.” Jonny’s utter confidence in God sending someone to our aid had me rethinking the terrible-no-good-boating-day long after we’d safely been delivered back to dry ground and the boat had gone to the repair shop.

Truth be told, I crave a life filled with predictability and comfort, for smooth sailing and an absence of hardships. But Jonny’s words had me rejoicing in our boating mishap because his faith grew when he prayed and God sent someone to our rescue. It is when we have nothing left but prayer that our faith learns to endure and not give up. And we need a strong, enduring faith on this earth because we will face hard times, and we need to know that God is God, unchanging and good, no matter what we face.

Lord, help us rejoice in the face of trials and problems, knowing that you will ride to our rescue and that our faith is being developed. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Make a list of the times God has rescued you (or someone you know). Recite this list to yourself the next time you face a difficult situation.