When things go wrong

Have you ever had one of those days that nothing went right? Yesterday was one of those days for me. I have sold my house. Well, at least in theory. The buyers and I have agreed on a price, we went through all of the steps in order to exchange possession. The one and seemingly insurrmountable hurdle is the mortgage company of the people who are buying the house of the people who are buying my house. If it's sounding a little weird, don't worry, it will get weirder. I was supposed to close the deal yesterday. I waited by my phone all morning. There was no call. I was at the house yesterday to cut the grass that, in my opinion, I didn't have to do. I didn't live in the house any more. There was no call. I called my agent. I told her we had to close today. If we didn't close, I would have to make another mortgage payment. She calls me back an hour and a half later, sayiing it won't happen until Monday or even Tuesday. Needless to say, I am fuming. This deal should have been completed two and a half weeks ago. The buyers of my house are frustrated. It's not their fault. I'm frustrated. It's not my fault. If only I could get my hands on that mortgage company person... And then, to add another level of frustration, it down poured again yesterday, which makes three days of rain in a row, no work is being done on my new house.

Now that I am calm once again, I heard something that God has always been telling me. I was too "hot under the collar" yesterday to listen. He said, "Take the peace of mind that I gave you through the agony of Jesus' final hours before the cross. Whenever I start complaining about things going wrong, I look at what Jesus endured for me. I look at my frustrations with the way "things ought to be," I look at the way things that occcurred in order to save me from sin, death, and the power of self and Satan. Whenever I get selfish about how things are inconviencing me, I look to what happened to Jesus.

What did happen to Jesus? He was betrayed by one of his Apostles. Men, who were leaders of the Jews and the church, hated him because he taught of the Father's true intention, not what they invented. He endured beatings, insults, whippings, nailings, and dying all for us. It was the Father's plan to cause all of this suffering, pain, anguish, and death in order to save us from it. Jesus could have complained. But he didn't. The Bible says, like a sheep before shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Jesus surprised everyone, including Pontius Pilate, by remaining silent. Through all the torture and agony, Jesus did not complain, nor cry out in pain. Jesus did not get angry with his accusers, but he offered forgiveness and peace to all.

And that is what Jesus, through everything he endured, offers to us when things get frustrating. He gives peace and forgiveness. when our times feel rough and rocky.