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Category: Problems

When It Rains, It Pours

When It Rains, It Pours

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When It Rains, It Pours 1Have you ever had one of those days … or weeks … or years when nothing goes right? Anything that can go wrong does go wrong. When it rains, its pours.

You suffer:

  • Illness
  • Family problems
  • Financial difficulties
  • Work stresses or loss of work
  • Friends who let you down
  • Other troubles, too numerous to mention

As a result, you:

  • Tire of the struggle
  • Feel like a failure
  • Have hit rock bottom
  • Want to give up

If your life were rain, those days would be thunderstorms, monsoons, hurricanes, and typhoons all rolled into one. On those days you feel like you will drown in your difficulties.

I wish I could offer a simple solution to get rid of those days. I can’t. If you live long enough, you will experience them.

However, I know one who offers peace during life’s storms. With Jesus in your life, the storms may not immediately go away, but you:

  • No longer drown in them.
  • No longer fight them alone.
  • Know they will be over one day.

In addition, you may someday discover that all that trouble was a blessing in disguise.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

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Eating Out of Her Hand

Eating Out of Her Hand

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Eating Out of Her HandDuring a stop in South Dakota, my friend Ann had this chipmunk eating out of her hand. Because of his appetite, he did what Ann desired.

She offered what he wanted, so he ignored any possible danger. He failed to follow the caution better safe than sorry.

Sometimes people have us eating out of their hands. We do whatever they want. This happens often in romantic relationships. We see it when Olivia Newton-John sings “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in the movie Grease.

In a good relationship, eating out of one another’s hand presents no danger.

We seek to please the one we love.

  • We give gifts.
  • We arrange special events.
  • We spend a lot of time together.

Unfortunately, some people take advantage of that desire to please.

As a result, those eating out of their hands suffer in several possible ways:

  • Abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual)
  • Neglect
  • Financial loss

Choose relationships wisely.

Seek help when needed. Encourage others to make good decisions.

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever (Psalm 136:12 NIV).

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A Bee in Your Bonnet

A Bee in Your Bonnet

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A Bee in Your BonnetYou need bees to pollinate plants. You don’t need a bee in your bonnet (hat or head covering).

Many beekeepers wear protective clothing, including a hat with a net. The net keeps bees away from their head and face. My husband was removing honey from a bee hive several years ago. Somehow, a few bees crawled inside his net. His one and only thought was to get that bonnet off!

When you get a bee in your bonnet, you focus totally on one idea. It controls your thoughts and actions. Nothing else matters to you.

Often that focus has no lasting value:

  • A car
  • A house
  • Clothes
  • Other material possessions

Occasionally the focus is harmful:

  • Hatred
  • Revenge
  • Prejudice

Why not focus instead on eternal values?

  • Trusting God
  • Serving others
  • Improving self

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23 NIV).

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Get a Grip

Get a Grip

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Get a GripLike a rock climber searching for a hand or foot hold, we sometimes need to get a grip.

Everything seems to go wrong. We feel out of control. We are  falling apart at the seams.

When that happens, we

  • Search for something to keep us from falling.
  • Seek stability.
  • Try to move forward.

But we are stuck.

When we tell people to get a grip, we see their need to calm down, to control themselves.

We often expect them to handle their problems alone, to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

We must remember, however, that we may be their source for a better grip.

By extending a helping hand, we may keep them from falling. By walking with them, we may show them the best way to go.

When life goes wrong, let’s get a grip. Let’s also offer a grip to our fellow climbers. Above all, let’s turn to the one who promises to guide us safely in every circumstance.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:1-3 NIV).

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Run Out of Steam

Run Out of Steam

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Run Out of SteamRun out of steam relates to old steam engines.

If engines don’t have enough steam, they slow or stop.

Although not many people rely on them today, a few steam engines still run. Colorado’s Durango-Silverton train remains a major tourist attraction. This man, waiting to board that train, relies on steam to get him where he wants to go.

Run out of gas means the same thing.

When a car or other vehicle runs out of gas, it stops. Without fuel, engines can’t keep going.

If people run out of steam, we also stop.

We lose all our energy (or interest). We can go no farther.

We run out of steam for a variety of reasons.

  • Trying to do too much
  • Not taking enough time
  • Health problems
  • Stress

Like old steam engines or modern cars, we must add fuel to keep ourselves going.

We must give our body, mind, and spirit what we need to function at our best.

Take care of yourself. You are the only you that you have.

“I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you” (3 John 1:2 NIV).

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Better Safe than Sorry

Better Safe than Sorry

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Better Safe than SorryA caution sign warns us:

  • Slow down.
  • Be careful.
  • Watch for danger ahead.

So does the expression better safe than sorry.

Taking precautions now may prevent regrets later.

How many times have we taken actions we should not?

We know better, but we ignore the warning signs.

  • We drive too fast.
  • We eat too much.
  • We exercise too little.
  • We ignore our doctor’s advice.

All can result in tragedy.

Tragedy may be prevented with a little extra caution.

  • Drive slower.
  • Eat less.
  • Exercise more.
  • Follow medical advice.

Yet, we people are stubborn creatures, aren’t we? We blunder along. We think It’s my life, and I’ll do as I please.

It is our life. We have only one. Let’s make it the best one possible — better safe than sorry.

“Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33 NIV).

Thanks to Emily Akin for another great suggestion.

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Stand Firm

Stand Firm

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Stand FirmThe lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia reminds us to stand firm.

Built in an area of great beauty, its original purpose had nothing to do with beauty. Like all lighthouses, it had work to do.

  • Stand tall enough to be seen by ships at sea.
  • Spread its light so it could be seen at night.
  • Monitor weather conditions.
  • Warn ships of danger.

Because of their locations, lighthouses face attacks from water, wind, and erosion.

Their personal dangers never keep them from doing their job.

They stand firm – never moving, never quitting.

Because of personal differences, people sometimes disagree.

We can handle those disagreements three ways.

  1. Compromise.
  2. Accept the other person’s position.
  3. Stand firm.

Either of the first two will work, if they cause no harm. I usually prefer those choices.

However, if harm will result from the first two, we must stand firm. Regardless of the consequences, we must refuse to change our thought or actions.  We must not move. We must not quit.

Like lighthouses, we have work to do.

  • Make the truth visible.
  • Apply it to current conditions.
  • Warn others when they approach danger.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV).

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Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom

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Rock BottomHave you ever hit rock bottom, when you have gone as low as you can go?

Rock bottom may mean you have lost any or all of the following, plus more:

  • Money
  • Home
  • Job
  • Friends
  • Family
  • Self-respect
  • Energy
  • Desire to live

Our suffering may be no fault of our own. However, we often hit rock bottom because of poor choices. In addition, we may have to hit the bottom before we see the need to change.

At the bottom, we realize we can’t keep making the same mistakes. Like hiking to the bottom of Bryce Canyon, going down is easier than going up. Yet, in order to survive, we must get out. So one step at a time, we slowly make our way to the top.

Once we make it, we look back and understand how far we have come.

At the same time, poor choices may continue to tempt us. When that happens, how do we keep from hitting rock bottom again?

  • Remember where we were and where we want to be.
  • Don’t go places that will tempt us.
  • Don’t spend time with people who will tempt us.
  • Find support from people who have also come up from the bottom.
  • Base our lives on a foundation that is as solid as a rock.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2 NIV).

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Out on a Limb

Out on a Limb

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Out on a LimbHave you seen the cartoon of a man sitting out on a limb? He’s sawing off the limb between himself and the tree. We laugh because we know that when the limb falls, so will he. Yet, he remains unaware.

The bear cub in this photo may not be out on a limb yet. However, we know if he tries to crawl out any of those tiny limbs, he too will fall.

We often fail to see the dangers around us.

Like the man and the bear cub, we cause many of those dangers ourselves.

  • Marriages fall apart because of harmless flirting.
  • Addictions result from trying just one drink or drug.
  • Bankruptcies occur when we can no longer pay all those little charges.

If we never take that first dangerous step, we don’t have to worry about falling.

Let’s take preventive steps instead.

  • Weigh the good and bad.
  • Make well-informed decisions.
  • Set reasonable limits in every part of our lives.

Let’s not put ourselves at risk. Let’s choose not to go out on a limb.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40 NIV).

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Bottom Line

Bottom Line

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Bottom Line-SaleThe bottom line on a financial statement shows the net profit or loss.

Therefore, when we ask, “What’s the bottom line?” we want to know the final cost or gain.

Businesses often advertise a low cost per month rather than the total cost. Two good questions to ask:

  1. What will this cost if we pay the total now?
  2. How much extra will this cost if we make payments?

Most of us like to buy items on sale. However, if we use our credit card, we need to pay the total bill when it arrives. If not, we may pay more than the item’s original price. Our bargain suddenly becomes a burden.

The bottom line applies to more than finances.

What are the costs and gains in our:

  • Behavior
  • Relationships
  • Jobs
  • Education
  • Spiritual life

Many choices are not worth the cost. Others are worth any cost.

In some countries, a decision to follow Jesus may involve great loss:

  • Rejection by family and friends
  • Denial of educational opportunities
  • Job loss
  • Imprisonment
  • Death

Yet, many people choose to follow Jesus anyway. They refuse to deny their faith. For them, eternity with God outweighs any temporary problems during this short life.

In every decision, count the cost. What’s the bottom line?

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NIV).

Thanks to Emily Akin for suggesting this expression.

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