“Before we moved here,” Stan began, “we were part of an excellent church where we lived. There were two people in that church who suffered individual heartbreak in a way I could only imagine, not truly understand.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“Each one was involved in a separate accident, only a few days apart. Both of them survived with their lives, but both were significantly paralyzed so they had to rely on others for just about everything.”
“Wow!” I responded. “Talk about heartbreak!”
“Big time,” Stan replied. “But it was real interesting to see how each person responded to the situation. Totally different.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“After both of them had recovered as much as possible from their accidents, one seemed to draw closer to God in an ever-deepening relationship. The other stopped coming to the church services altogether. I visited and talked with him and was surprised at the depth of his anger towards God. He was very bitter and, in essence, said he wanted nothing to do with God if this is what He was like.”
“I will pray for him,” I responded. “What about the other person?”
“Amazing,” Stan said. “Truly amazing. As time went by, he became more heavily involved in the church and became a major teacher in several Bible study classes.”
Continuing, he said, “More than once I heard this fellow say that he was truly thankful for what had happened to him. He related that he did not think he would be where he was in his relationship with God had he not had the injury.”
“So the one became bitter and the other better,” I replied.
“Yes,” Stan said, “it all depended on seeing, understanding, receiving, accepting, and embracing what God had in store to accomplish His purposes. It was and is a matter of choosing to be His regardless of the circumstances.”
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You are not your own for you have been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that I am no longer my own, but that I am yours in everything and in every situation in which you place me for your purposes. I confess that too often I engage in a pity party focusing on me rather than on you and what you want to do in and through me. Please forgive me. And please, Lord, open me to see, understand, receive, accept, and embrace all you have for me so that your purposes, not mine apart from you, will be accomplished. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 