Right now there is someone reading this and you don’t have a fat clue what your next move is. You know that you need to make a move but God seems silent.
Right now there is someone reading this and you are stressed up to your pupils. You are overwhelmed with life and it’s causing you to freeze. You are stuck because you don’t know where to start.
Right now there is someone reading this and you are hurting. Your pain is real. There are no easy answers to fix you. Medication may numb your pain but it doesn’t remove it.
Right now there is someone reading this and you are scared. You are scared of what if. What if they leave? What if the economy gets worse? What if I don’t find love?
Right now there is someone reading this and you are in a crappy situation.
Your crap will one day become your story. I know you may not understand that right now but if you want to make it through this you’ve got to believe it.
Often times when we read the Bible we can zone out because we know how the story is going to end.
- There is no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph every time we read the story.
- David slays Goliath every time we read the story.
- Joseph gets sold into slavery by his brothers every time we read the story.
- Jesus dies on the cross every time we read the story.
The facts don’t change. Because we know the outcome we forget that these stories are about real people who experience their crap in real time.
- Mary was told she was going to birth the Messiah. That didn’t mean that it was easy when she heard there was no room for her in the inn. How would you respond if you were given that news? Would you shake your fist at God?
- David didn’t know that he was going to defeat Goliath. He did what he thought was right, but he wasn’t promised that he wasn’t going to die.
- Joseph ends up running Egypt. He didn’t know he was going to end up there while he was rotting in prison.
- Jesus went through agonizing pain. It wasn’t easy. He even asked God for another way. He went through the pain and it became the greatest story ever told.
I know that we don’t know the outcome of our crap. I know that right now it sucks. I know that right now we want answers. But we’ve got to believe that God is bigger than our situation. With the exception of Jesus, the characters from the Bible didn’t know the outcome. They lived their life in faith. Their crap became a story that we now find hope from.
One day you will look back at your story and this moment will be a moment that helps people find hope. The way you handle this situation. The way you hold onto God even though it seems pointless. Right now you are going through crap, but one day it will become a part of your story.
I’d love to pray for you today. What is your crap? In other words what are you going through?
Where I should be in life with my career
Ryan, I am praying for you!
Our crap is really what makes us what we are. No crap…no story. I think that’s what some people think. They come to Christ and there’s no more crap. Nope, doesn’t happen.
Larry, well said.
My job future is uncertain. God is providing now and has been. I am living by trusting God to keep me employed. He hasn’t let me down at all. I need prayer to keep trusting God everyday. I fall short when I let doubt sneak in. (Five Lies of the Devil) Writing about my doubt just made me realize I’m really fine. Thanks Rob. I have my head straight now! I just need to remind myself I’m covered by his blood. 🙂
Billy, prayed for you this morning.
Leading our church through some major transitions right now. Praying for His will and not mine as I lead.
Michael, I prayed that God would give you the wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right even when it’s hard.
I really appreciate that.
Pray that I can find a way to leave regret behind, as it seems to rule my life and has stolen my joy from me for many years now.
Daniel, I prayed for you. I prayed that you would seek community. I think within true community you would find so much freedom and others would benefit from you.
Strength
Joseph, I prayed that you would find strength in God.
great post rob. i really needed this. You are the man! Miss you and i will see you Nov 20 at WEC!
Brad, even though you didn’t ask for it I prayed for you. I prayed that God would give you wisdom. I prayed that God would help you to guard your heart.
Rob, thanks a lot man! hope all is well with you, monica, and the twins!
Wow! Where do I begin? Single mom of teenagers.
Small business owner – tough economy
School, sports, volunteering in the community & church.
Often overwhelmed ~ (Usually in very good ways!)
But sometimes… not. Sometimes I blow it.
Sometimes I drop the balls.
So thankful for a God who carries me thru!
Amber, I prayed for you! I prayed that God would bless your family and your business.
Thank You Rob!
We SO Appreciate you (& our WEC family..)
He took care of my crap at the Cross!
Sometimes…it still wants to creep up on me…sometimes…he does and i fail…BUT He is my sheild and strength!
Needing Him everyday…
Arny, I prayed that God would do more through you then what you could ask or imagine.
You know my crap and I’m grateful for it because it has brought me closer to God. Pray for my broken heart and the strength to continue honor God. Larry Carter said it best. We think we are above the crap when we become Christ Followers….when it’s really just the start of the crap.
Hey Kim
Hope it’s ok to reply here to you! Thankful you know my crap too and I am praying for you always!! When that song came on this past Sunday I was thinking about you! My God will come through ALWAYS!! Love you!
It’s only cause you’re taking back territory that belongs to God…
Love ya Kim Brown
Kim, you have been such a blessing to Community Groups! You are an amazing testimony of how God can use people despite crappy circumstances. Thank you for giving back and not giving up. Prayed for you!
WOW!! Rob this is AWESOME! I feel so blessed that God led me to WEC right before the HUGE storms of life started coming one after the other and I know without any doubt He is giving us our stories to help change lives 🙂 I am just so ready for a calm in the storm so that when I feel like I can share the story it gets to a point when some one listening might say ” all that and you God brought you through.” Even saying this out loud makes me feel bad because He is bringing us through every day BUT lately some days are getting harder and harder. Again, THANKS for all you do!
Kim, I prayed that God would give you calm in the storm. I prayed that you would have wisdom! Keep holding on.
I need prayers for healthy blood. I have put my faith in God that (one day soon) I will either know what is wrong with me or that he will heal me. 🙂 Until then, he gives me strength to keep rolling with days packed full of demands and the peace to know when to just sit it out and let someone else handle the crap!
Thanks for all you do, Rob!!
I prayed that God would heal you and give you healthy blood! I believe He can! Keep rolling.
Thank you for the prayers. I prayed for you also. I thanked God for you and prayed that he would continue to guide you as you bring his word, love and strength to all of us.
Wow, awesome words today, much needed. I’ve been working through my own unemployed adventure, and I keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting for something positive to happen. I look forward to writing the success story to this period in my life.
Jeff, I pray that God would provide a job for you! I pray that God would supply all your needs. Thank you for sharing!
Man so true! In the silence is sometimes where the real test of character happens – that and through the pain. Ouch. I’m a testament to that. Couldn’t have learned some of the big lessons without either the silence or the pain. Great insight!
Thanks Cindy! I hate having my character tested but it does make you stronger.
I need prayer for forgiveness. It’s so hard to do, especially when the hurt happens very frequently.
Meara, I prayed that you would have the strength to forgive and the wisdom to leave the situation. Forgiving doesn’t mean that you let someone continue to hurt you.
My crap is my marriage. Can’t say any more than that or I’ll take up your whole page. It’s been worse, but I want it to be much better.
T.C., I prayed that God would move in your marriage. I pray that God would give you the ability to love your spouse like Jesus loves the church.
Rob, you don’t know what it meant to think someone the other side of the world had prayed for me! I want to thank you because I do feel like a little breakthrough has been made! Thank you. http://talkingchristian.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-will-live-my-life-for-youwill-i.html
T.C., it’s my honor. I do pray that God blesses your marriage.
Wow, I read this on a passing glance. Just lost my job yesterday after 15 years. Probably something I did out of frustration. I know that God was not asleep at the wheel. It was me. Wife doesn’t want to be with me anymore. I just know what to do. Then I sek His face and He is smiling. He’s not speaking and telling me yet, but the smile lets me know that He already knows. I just have to wait and listen.
George, thank you for sharing. I pray that you will sense God’s presence in the midst of this tough situation.
After my post and your reply, I already have a call back for an interview Thursday at 4. Who knows. He knows I’m sure.
I was pulled from my pile of crap a year ago. I was struggling with hate. God has helped picked me up and he used a speacial place called WEC to do so. I left last year Chrismas Eve service changed…. This year I plan to bring other and hope they have the same experience.
Doug, that’s amazing! You are such a blessing to WEC. I’m glad that God pulled you from your crap.
Just wondering where I belong in this life. Learning bits and pieces of what I’m good at and what I might enjoy doing for a long time, but the “where” of it all is still a disheartening mystery to me.
But I do take comfort and hope that my befuddlement is all part of some great story in the works.
TMZ, this has been something that I have seen you write about before. What area are you interested in? I want to specifically pray for a door to open. Prayed that God would give you direction.
I do a lot of tutoring and I’ve just been cleared to be a substitute teacher in California. So I’m excited about the possibilities there as I dabble with the idea of teaching long-term. Also big into writing stories and hope to get published someday, though I’m willing to be much more patient with that particular dream.
Thanks for your prayers! Much love.
My crap today is envy. My ex husband remarried after walking out on me. I am happier now than I was in the marriage but it still hurts too know the man that hurt me so badly has found “forever” while I haven’t.
Emmie, I prayed that you would find satisfaction in God and in what you have now. I also prayed that God would bring love your way and that you wouldn’t settle for someone who didn’t love Jesus.
The relationship between my wife and our 17 year old son fractured over the summer to the point that they could not live under the same roof. My son now lives with my parents and visits us on the weekends.
They are both healing and attempting to mend the relationship, but being the one caught in the middle it is a painstakingly slow process. Often my patience is stretched to its limits leaving me feeling frustrated and helpless.
Randal, I prayed that your family would find peace. Hang in there man! Thanks for sharing.
I appreciate your prayers for God’s Spirit in me to provide freedom from lust and pornography. Been living at Romans 7:15 for a long time “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Really want to move on to Romans 8:13-14 “…if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Sirvhim, I prayed for you multiple times last night. I do pray that you find freedom. I know it’s possible. If you are interested I’d love to talk to you about a few things. There is a guy who I’d love to put you in contact with. His story will help! Let me know.
Absolutely!
Thanks for this, Rob. It’s a great reminder. Someday I will be thankful for this pile of crap. Excellent news.
Mandie, my pleasure. Thank you for reading for commenting. It means a lot.
Thanks for the asking, Rob! Hmmm… where to start?
My husband has been out of work for a year and a half. I doubt I have to elaborate how stressful it has been. We have six kids between us (his, mine and ours) and his job had all the benefits. I keep praying and praying and praying, asking, asking, asking all the time for God to help. Today, I decided to just listen for Him.
But I get really angry at all the down time my husband has when I can barely keep my head above the water with my job, the kids, worrying about how to put food on the table, how to pay the bills, etc.
You are right, though. This crap will become my story and I believe God is having us go through this because one day we will be able to help someone else but lately, I just want to quit.
Something that’s taken me far too long to learn:
In this life, not all crap comes out alright in the end, but…
God is good.
And even if He doesn’t give me the answer I want He is Himself the Answer. As much as I would rather there be resolution, His grace really is sufficient.