Usually, I have a tendency to ask God, “why me” when troubles arise. Yet, as I was worshiping the Lord in song this morning, I received a brief reply. Like a snap shot or vision, my afflictions of the past and present occur so that these trials can be eclipsed by God’s glory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7CQ96uohcM
The first major affliction I endured arrived on graduation day, when one of my best friends from high school was diagnosed with cancer. When her cancer went into remission 1 year later, I breathed a deep sigh of relief until it returned to take Maureen’s life abruptly. Without experiencing this hardship, I probably would have become a golf course architect, my concentration in college, instead of entering youth ministry.
My second malady was self inflicted, on a golf course while attempting to earn my players card to become a certified P.G.A. professional. I hit 26 out of 36 greens in regulation, 22 out of 28 fairways and played the hardest hole 1 under par through 2 rounds. Somewhere in the spiritual realm, strange acts of nature kept by ball from going in the hole, especially when I 3 and 4 putted the same hole, missing my card by 2 shots. Yet, this epic failure prompted me to become a high school Bible teacher for a decade.
Finally, losing my teaching position in 2012 was a tough blow to my confidence and ego. However, from the ashes of despair, God carried me until I was ready for my next assignment. As I start this new adventure on Tuesday with Amazon, I don’t know what the future holds. Nonetheless, whether, good, bad or indifferent, any afflictions I suffer will surely be eclipsed by God’s glory.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 