Chapel Service

Iowa Speedway

May 19, 2012

“Asking The Right Questions”

 

(Read the entire message online at our BCFM website below)

www.BeyondCheckeredFlags.com

Bob Butcher

In this last month a couple similar problems have afflicted friends.  Both reminded me of serious issues I have faced and responses I chose.  Let me explain.  All too often something difficult happens to us and takes us by surprise.  Some times we are devastated or hurt.

 Quite often the first things out of our mouth are complaints and rhetoric like:

  • “this just isn’t fair”,
  • “why that no good, dirty rat”, or
  • “I cannot believe…”
  •  and on and on as we then begin to reach out to other people to complain about our circumstance we have just found ourselves in.

 The cell phone, email, Facebook, and tweet providers are delighted as their business rises with the building chaos in our life.

 Early in the morning May 7th our friend called to say her car had been stolen from her apartment during the night.

 You can already imagine her situation, except you need to know, like Kathy & me; she is a missionary and lives frugally on a very small income from donors that needs to cover both ministry and everyday life.  The car wasn’t new, but despite being kept in pristine condition insurance would never cover the real value both in money and need… which was imperative in her life. 

So here we have one traumatic issue to look at; …plus another still to come.

That next story is mine, however and I will have to save that one for last or on the website where you can read this complete message at: www.BeyondCheckeredFlags.com

The difference however, in each case is the response to the situation.

Surely, first in each case has got to be disbelief and downright panic.

I know mine was as I sat totally alone in the huge Frankfurt, Germany train station remembering the train door shutting between Kathy, my girls, the whole outreach team we were leading, and me as the train departed to Amsterdam.  What came next was harrowing…

But due to the time, that is going to have to wait until next week.

Obviously in each case those complaints, sarcastic comments, and the poor me pity party could have began, however they did not in either case.  Instead, the correct response was used in each case.

That response is to stop and quiet yourself, your mind, and all the emotions trying to go wild and simply ask the Lord about the situation. 

This friend did exactly that and ask God what this was about. 

  • “What are You trying to teach me Lord?” 
  • “Is there a lesson here for me?” 
  • “How am I to respond?”  
  • “Do I need to bring my friends into this situation and ask them to pray?”
  •  I will trust You Lord in what You have for me.

Following that time she quietly turned to her daily devotional “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  Here is what she read:

“If you learn to trust Me – really trust Me – with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My peace.  Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me.  This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you.  Joseph was a prime example of this divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

 Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way.  Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done.  Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day.  Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter”

  • She then went about what the Lord spoke to her through this precisely timed devotional:  She called each of her close friends to pray for her situation and to be spot-on obedient to the Lord’s word.
  • She called the police after that
  • She went about her daily responsibility
  • She trusted, remained calm, and expected the Lord to work

 The result to shorten the story is that the police found her car two streets away in fine condition later that evening.  She was beyond joy and learned another wonderful lesson in trust and how to ask the right person who knows everything before it ever happens the right question.  Only He can keep peace in your life.

 Have you taught yourself how to remain calm, ask to RIGHT questions and stand firm in your TRUST of God?

 God said to trust Him with your WHOLE being!

  • That means with your MIND
  • …your WILL
  • …Your EMOTIONS

 Scripture Reference:  Genesis 50:20   (GBB)

“You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to bring about this present result which affects many the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened.”

 If you are not familiar with all that Joseph went through that is referred to here take this next week and dig into Genesis 37 through 50.  Believe me when I say that if you feel that everyone was against you and out to get you, even your own family, then check into Joseph’s life!