I have heard it said that people can be divided into three groups:

1. Those who are in a trial
2. Those who have come out of a trial
3. Those who are going into a trial

As I write this, I am dealing with some stuff that puts me in category 1.

I am working through some hard stuff in my family. For a number of reasons, I chose not to go into detail about the nature of the trials. But suffice it to say that they are difficult enough to strip away any illusion that I have any control over my circumstances.

But in the midst of this, I read what King David wrote in Psalm 55:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Psalm 55:22, CSB

If I cast the burden on God he promises to sustain me. The bottom line is that either this promise is true or it is not. I can choose to believe it or I can chose to disbelieve.

I have chosen to believe and thus far, God has sustained me. Somehow, I have not been overwhelmed by the difficulties.

Ah, but you might wonder if I have truly connected with the reality of the circumstances I am encountering. Perhaps I am simply in denial. Perhaps I don’t understand the gravity of the problems.

Maybe, but then I read that David took on lions and bears in protecting his sheep. Did he not understand the danger that such beasts present?

I’m sure David understood the gravity of his situation, but he also understood that God was with him and he never doubted the outcome.

I’m sure that as things unfold, there are emotions still to be felt and tears yet to be shed. But I can say that so far, I feel as though no matter what happens, I will be OK.

As Job said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 1:21, CSB

Paul shares his perspective in Philippians 4:

“ I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:11–13, CSB

From a temporal perspective, the worst is yet to come. I know that and it does scare me. I’m also aware that when things get harder, I will have to wrestle with feelings of self pity and abandonment.

But from an eternal perspective, I know that God has not stopped being God, nor has anything that has happened to me or around me has escaped his notice or control.

I must rest in that.

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I was recently asked about my calling and where I see myself with regard to Christian ministry.

In thinking about how to respond to this question, it comes to me that whatever the answer is, it must be rooted in the two great commands to love God and love neighbor.

First, I must confess that I feel very deficient in fulfilling either of these commands. Or, perhaps more correctly, I don’t do very well at either of these commands in my own strength. I have much to learn about how to more deeply love God and others.

Like our first parent in the Garden, I often try to find excuses for my failures to love. I could point to people that are critical, difficult, indifferent, or hostile to me as those who make it impossible for me to fulfill this command. But, in reality, the failure is my own fault. I have no legitimate excuse.

The fact that difficult people are in my life does not provide a reason to be unloving. That person whose criticism of me seems to be non-stop, also should be loved and not avoided. Those persons who have unrealistic expectations that they place on me; they should be loved also.

If I love those who love me back, Jesus remains unimpressed. If, on the other hand, I love the ones who don’t deserve it, that is another story. Jesus even went so far at to tell us that even our enemies should be loved.

The point of this ramble is that any idea of Christian calling needs to be rooted in these two commands. These commands are a good starting point to figure out what I am being called to do in life.

So, for today, I want to go back to basics and meditate on these two commands and look for opportunities to follow them. Some questions I’m asking myself:

• Am I taking the time in Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer to deepen my relationship to God?
• Am I willing to be open with others about my relationship with God?
• Am I willing to see other people the way God sees them? (Hint: like me they are flawed, but created in the image of God and therefore valuable)
• Am I willing to forgive the faults in others and seek to see the good in them, trusting that God is working in them to accomplish his purpose?
• Am I willing to be inconvenienced when someone needs help? Or, am I like the priest and Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan?
• Am I actively looking for opportunities to love God and others or am I consumed by getting my own (perceived) needs met?

The list of ways the two great commands should be applied is seemingly endless.

But building any sort of “ministry” or calling without this foundation would be a waste of time and effort.

If you are encouraged by this post or would like to make a comment, please use the comment form below to offer your feedback. If you are reading this in an email and would like to comment, you can reply to the email or click on the “Read in browser” link below to go to the web page where you can enter a comment. I enjoy hearing from you.