A dude is driving really slow and it’s a no passing zone, so you might be late for an important meeting.
You've been trying to do a good job at work, but your boss blames you for his mistake in front of his boss, so you may not get the promotion or raise you wanted.
You have worked hard all day and want to relax, but your child has waited until the last moment to start a project that requires your help, so you won't be able to relax any time soon.
We all have plans for the near and distant future. We all have things we want to achieve, places we want to go and schedules we want to keep, and we can get very frustrated when other people's actions get in the way of our plans!
But should we see these troublesome people as obstacles to our plans or as opportunities to practice and/or share our faith?
What opportunity is there if I am driving behind a slow driver? Well there is certainly an opportunity to trust God's management of the universe! If you left home late, that's on you, but when things prevent us from reaching our goals, even when we are doing all we can, there is much comfort in knowing a loving, wise and all-powerful God has allowed this delay for His purposes!
What opportunity is there if your boss blames you for his mistake in front of his boss, so you may not get the promotion or raise you wanted? Well you could call him out on it then, get even later, or just stew over it. However, if your main priority is seeking an opportunity to witness for Jesus, your attitude and actions will likely be quite different. When those around Jesus were mistreating Him, it led some observers to conclude that He was the Son of God (Matt. 27:54! His miracles were impressive, but there is something special in not lashing out when justice suggests we have every right to do so.
What opportunity is there when you have worked hard all day and want to relax, but your child has waited until the last moment to start a project that requires your help, so you won't be able to relax any time soon. Well, there is the opportunity to show them who and what is most important! Oh, if I could turn back the clock and have a do-over on this one! Sure it might be appropriate to teach the importance of not waiting until the last moment (stewardship), but most of all it is a chance to show love and mercy to a child with whom your time to witness in this way will pass very quickly.
God is all-powerful!
God is all-wise!
God loves you, for Jesus' sake!
So believe that he is in control of all that comes your way, stop worrying about getting where you need to be, and be a witness where He already has you!
And please pray I would practice what I preach!
