When Satan comes after you, he sends what seems like all of his minions to torture and test you. This week, his minions delivered me several unwanted packages.
My first package came on Sunday, when my boss unjustly criticized me at work. He dropped a box full of bitterness and resentment at my feet and left me to carry it all week.
My second package came Wednesday morning, when I got news of my grandfather's death. Satan sent a letter stuffed with death straight into my mailbox and waited for me to open it.
My third package came when it was announced that the funeral would be on Monday, hindering me from traveling to Houston to serve God's people alongside my dearest friends from Friends University. Satan delivered disappointment and confusion into my lap, and laughed as I drowned in it.
My fourth package came when, after leaving the donut whole last night, I forgot to turn my lights on. Satan's messenger (the policeman, haha) slid a 91 dollar ticket into my hands, and stiffly walked away.
But then, a fifth package came. And as unexpected as the previous drop offs had been, this one took me by complete surprise.
This unique package came when I stepped into the campus ministries lounge to withdrawal from the trip. I expected to just drop off my package of bad news, turn around, and walk out. But my friends had other plans.
They sent me the greatest package; one that outshone the desperate and resentful packages I received previously. Inside this package was a loving group of friends aching for my loss and sharing in my sorrow and disappointment. Yet when I pulled out the first two parts of the package (care and concern), hope stared me in the face and dared me to pull it out. And I'm so glad I did.
Words of encouragement flooded my ears, tears forced their way out of my eyes, and prayer and worship began to heal the wounds inflicted by Satan's messengers. A piece of paper that was laid neatly at the bottom of the box caught my eye. Three short sentences reminded me of my Hope that never fails.
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
You are such a beautiful writer, Seth! I was so taken by this post that I pasted it into an interesting website I recently read about called "I write like" http://iwl.me/ that compares our writing to famous writers. Their analysis is that you write like Dan Brown! Pretty high praise! So there's a package to celebrate! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy sympathy and prayers are with you and your family at the loss of your grandfather.