I think one of the results of having a child who didn't sleep well is that I am now a bona fide night owl. I am thankful that I don't require a lot of sleep to function, but sometimes that's my downfall too. It's amazing the ways I can find to waste my time just to continue to enjoy a quiet house! Most nights, Jordan sleeps through the night and I am able to sleep a good six or seven hours in a row. I always stay up too late, but I'm still getting those hours in. But, every once in a while, he wakes up and it's a couple hours of battling to get him back to sleep.
Last night was one of those nights. I stayed up until midnight wasting time...not doing anything beneficial at all. I told myself over and over that I need to get to bed. I need to get some sleep. But, I stayed up. Sure enough, at 3:20 Jordan started crying. Two hours later, I was finally back in bed only to be woken up at 6 by Blake's alarm. Then I fell back asleep for another hour or so until Jordan finally woke up.
I was dead tired this morning! Coffee was a first priority (after the snuggling part of my morning was over). Sesame Street was employed to entertain Jordan while I sipped my coffee and forced my eyes open. Why did I do this to myself?
Boring story...but I feel like it's a good metaphor for something I've been learning.
I feel like every time I spend time in the word (by myself or at church), it's about heavy stuff. Trials, the journey through life, keeping an eternal perspective. On Wednesday nights, we are studying the book of Job...not exactly an uplifting read!
Add that to the things that have been going on in my life (along with so many of my friend's lives), the question of the day is "Why is this happening?"
There are many answers to this question and I don't believe we can ever know for sure, but we do know that God says that "All things work together for the good of those who love Him". He also tells us to "Keep your eyes on things above, not on earthly things." There is no short answer to "why" bad things happen other than sin. Consequences of sin may be one reason for a problem. God may be using a trial in our lives to draw us to Him, to refine us, or to draw others to Him. Or all of the above.
One thing we know is "Our God is in the Heavens; He does all that He pleases." Because I am His child, I can rest in the knowledge that He is working all of the good and bad and hard and joyful into what He wants it to be. Sometimes I can see reasons here on earth. Last week, I was able to encourage and relate to a friend who is struggling with infertility last. We wouldn't have Jordan if it weren't for a potential placement not working out just five weeks before. Sometimes, I'm left with nothing except God's goodness and promises. Why didn't we get to bring Millie home? I really can think of no good earthly reason. I have to CHOOSE to set my mind on the things above...that God has a plan that will glorify Himself and will not waste the frustration and grief I feel now.
So, we may or may not get answers to "why". But we can know one things for sure. Hard times will come. Following Christ is hard. It means dying daily. It means persecution. It means giving up earthly treasures for heavenly ones. Everyone will go through difficult times. It's a guarantee.
So, what in the world does my sleepless night have to do with suffering and trials? In the grand scope of things, being a little sleepy today because my own dumb choices is really not that big of a deal. But at 5:15 this morning when I was trying to drift back to sleep, I thought "I should have been ready for this. I know this is going to happen, so why didn't I do the right thing and go to bed early? I should have just planned on this happening and it wouldn't be so hard now."
If we know something will happen, and we just don't know when, isn't the smart thing to do to just go ahead and prepare for it. Get your rest when you can. Go to bed instead of wasting precious sleep on Facebook. Sleepless nights will come...enjoy and make the most of the sleep-filled nights.
That's how we need to approach the trials of life. Expect them, plan for them...not in a "there's a problem around the corner, Debbie-downer" kind of way. But if we know that this world is not our home and there will be trouble, shouldn't we use the days we have that are good and normal to prepare. Get to know God and His promises. Pray for strength and endurance when the hard times come. Pray for others who are walking through difficult times. Rejoice in the mundane and the blessings. Don't be caught off guard. Use each day to get to know the God of Heaven who promises to sustain us.
Last night was one of those nights. I stayed up until midnight wasting time...not doing anything beneficial at all. I told myself over and over that I need to get to bed. I need to get some sleep. But, I stayed up. Sure enough, at 3:20 Jordan started crying. Two hours later, I was finally back in bed only to be woken up at 6 by Blake's alarm. Then I fell back asleep for another hour or so until Jordan finally woke up.
I was dead tired this morning! Coffee was a first priority (after the snuggling part of my morning was over). Sesame Street was employed to entertain Jordan while I sipped my coffee and forced my eyes open. Why did I do this to myself?
Boring story...but I feel like it's a good metaphor for something I've been learning.
I feel like every time I spend time in the word (by myself or at church), it's about heavy stuff. Trials, the journey through life, keeping an eternal perspective. On Wednesday nights, we are studying the book of Job...not exactly an uplifting read!
Add that to the things that have been going on in my life (along with so many of my friend's lives), the question of the day is "Why is this happening?"
There are many answers to this question and I don't believe we can ever know for sure, but we do know that God says that "All things work together for the good of those who love Him". He also tells us to "Keep your eyes on things above, not on earthly things." There is no short answer to "why" bad things happen other than sin. Consequences of sin may be one reason for a problem. God may be using a trial in our lives to draw us to Him, to refine us, or to draw others to Him. Or all of the above.
One thing we know is "Our God is in the Heavens; He does all that He pleases." Because I am His child, I can rest in the knowledge that He is working all of the good and bad and hard and joyful into what He wants it to be. Sometimes I can see reasons here on earth. Last week, I was able to encourage and relate to a friend who is struggling with infertility last. We wouldn't have Jordan if it weren't for a potential placement not working out just five weeks before. Sometimes, I'm left with nothing except God's goodness and promises. Why didn't we get to bring Millie home? I really can think of no good earthly reason. I have to CHOOSE to set my mind on the things above...that God has a plan that will glorify Himself and will not waste the frustration and grief I feel now.
So, we may or may not get answers to "why". But we can know one things for sure. Hard times will come. Following Christ is hard. It means dying daily. It means persecution. It means giving up earthly treasures for heavenly ones. Everyone will go through difficult times. It's a guarantee.
So, what in the world does my sleepless night have to do with suffering and trials? In the grand scope of things, being a little sleepy today because my own dumb choices is really not that big of a deal. But at 5:15 this morning when I was trying to drift back to sleep, I thought "I should have been ready for this. I know this is going to happen, so why didn't I do the right thing and go to bed early? I should have just planned on this happening and it wouldn't be so hard now."
If we know something will happen, and we just don't know when, isn't the smart thing to do to just go ahead and prepare for it. Get your rest when you can. Go to bed instead of wasting precious sleep on Facebook. Sleepless nights will come...enjoy and make the most of the sleep-filled nights.
That's how we need to approach the trials of life. Expect them, plan for them...not in a "there's a problem around the corner, Debbie-downer" kind of way. But if we know that this world is not our home and there will be trouble, shouldn't we use the days we have that are good and normal to prepare. Get to know God and His promises. Pray for strength and endurance when the hard times come. Pray for others who are walking through difficult times. Rejoice in the mundane and the blessings. Don't be caught off guard. Use each day to get to know the God of Heaven who promises to sustain us.
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