Consider It a Great Joy

 

Over the past few months, I have used my daily walks through the physical woods at the back of our property to talk with God and try to listen to what He wants me to hear, and most of the blog posts in this series are developed based on my random Bible readings at the end of those walks. This post (and possibly more) is not based on a physical walk in the woods. To be sure, I am still walking daily in the woods, but I am making more of a point of listening when God speaks to me in other places.

This post, and likely more to follow, is based on a new sermon series that Pastor Mike Chandler is working through at Summit Community Church. He has titled this series "Trust the Process," and his goal is to remind us that we have to trust God, even when things don't seem to be working out like we think they should. I am including this link to the first sermon in the series to encourage anyone (myself included) to go watch the entire series in the future.

Our family began attending Summit in the fall of 2021, as we were looking to find a new church home that was more compassionate. COVID was still a major concern for many people, and I will never forget the older gentleman who was seated in the pew in front of us on our first visit to Summit. We walked in wearing masks because COVID cases were on the rise again, and that older man left the sanctuary right after we entered. A few minutes later, he returned wearing a mask, as well. From that first visit to Summit, we almost immediately knew that this was where our family was meant to be.

Without knowing it, Pastor Mike has been a major inspiration to me, in particular. In February 2023, he lost his wife after a very long battle with cancer (12 years, I believe). Of course, he took some time off to work through his grief, but I have been in awe of his ability to step back up on that pulpit and continue to teach about a loving God who always knows what is best for us.

At the same time that Pastor Mike was facing his loss, God called me to become a father to Abe, and there have been so many trials in that calling that I have worried if this is really want God wants from me. Right now, it has been almost eight months since I lost my job at NCSSM and have not had any communication with Abe. My new job has been very rewarding at times, but the banking and payroll issues have been difficult, to say the least. I certainly don't understand why things are working out the way they have, but I still have faith that everything is working out according to God's plan.

Just when I have felt my deepest discouragement, Pastor Mike started a new sermon series with James 1:2, and although some would disagree with his statement, he made one of the most important comments I may have ever heard in my entire life. Pastor Mike was open, honest, and sincere when he reminded us that the trials of our life are NOT joyful. I felt so seen and so refreshed in hearing that it is okay to not find joy in the trials, at least not during the trials. I do continue to rely on Romans 8:28, knowing that it will all work out for my good, but Pastor Mike helped me realize that it is absolutely okay to not enjoy the trials. I just have to trust the process.

Heavenly Father, as hard as it is for me to say today, I thank you for the trials in my life, and I am trusting you in this process, knowing that the testing of my faith produces endurance. I also thank you for the Spirit-filled teaching of Pastor Mike and the inspiration he provides by living his life in you. In the enduring name of Jesus I pray, Amen.