I got caught with my pants down again. Before you gasp, let me explain. My pants are very much on, I just mean I’ve been getting caught way off guard every time life throws me a curve ball. I’m shocked, frustrated, and just so kerfuffled by it. So I end up fighting 2 opponents:
- My emotional response to the fact that it’s even happening
- The actual problem.
Way to make it harder on yourself, Hirdler.
I react the same way every time – throwing hands, and probably non-Christian spicy words, in every direction. Exhausting myself and coming up the biggest loser, without the weight loss. But (or should I say BUTT since I led with my pants down) God stepped in the other day. I didn’t ask Him to and, honestly, I never saw any of this as a problem before He pointed it out.
On this particular morning, my emotions had hit peak kerfuffle when a verse floated through my head:
“Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Cue nerdy research about rods and staffs in biblical shepherding. Turns out the rod was used as a weapon to protect the sheep from thieves, predators, or anything out to harm the weak little woolies. This wasn’t just some walking stick the shepherd found on the ground. It was 2ish feet long, thick, often with fat chunks of iron sticking out the end. Let’s just say it got the job done and kept Bo Peep’s sheep out of harm’s way.
As I noodled this, a series of questions from the Lord ran rapid-fire through my brain:
Do you trust that I’m your shepherd and I will step in to protect you?
Do you trust that I have good plans for your life? That I order your steps and direct your path?
Do you trust that my eyes are in every place? That all power is in my hands? That you’re protected under the shadow of my wings?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes, Lord.
Then why do you think these trials, these hardships, have slipped past me and into your life? Did I fall asleep? Did I swing at a predator and miss?
I guess not.
So if I’m a good protector, if my aim is perfect, and if I’m always guarding you…what’s the only logical conclusion?
That you lifted the rod and allowed it.
Yep.
I was ticked. God’s supposed to love me. Take care of me. Fight my battles for me! Not sit on His hands while I get hammered by hardship. But then I thought of Job. Remember that guy? Lost everything. His farm, family, fortune, friends. All because the Lord allowed the enemy to test him and prove that no matter the circumstances, Job wouldn’t quit on God. He wouldn’t stop believing, praising, and obeying.
There are countless stories like this in the Bible where God allowed His people to walk through really hard things so they could be tested, trained, and taught to rely more deeply on Him. They were a stubborn people and God knew that sometimes comfort can’t teach what a trial can. It’s still true today! It may not look good on the outside, but it’s definitely good FOR us.
So now I’ve decided to approach hard things like a boxer in training. I’m suited up and ready for a rumble because I know God won’t always spare me from stepping into the ring. But He does carefully choose the sparring partners I trade jabs with. If He allows something to square up against me, He’s going to teach me how to defeat it and I’ll be stronger because of it. All I have to do is listen and stay close to Him.
10/10 recommend choosing not be shocked and undone when trials come. I’ve already noticed a big difference in my head! Let’s learn to accept that obstacles are there for a reason and God will use them for good. So pop your mouthguard in, get your gloves on, and throw punches. The fight won’t last forever and with God in your corner, you’re guaranteed to win.
Oh and speaking of boxing… Did you know one of my bucket list items is to stand in a ring and take a punch? Just one. Bonus points if I don’t weep or wet my pants. I haven’t worked up the courage yet, so until then I’ll just be over here dropping boxing metaphors and fighting spiritual battles instead.
