This Too Shall Pass?

There’s a difference between the person who has never had a kidney stone and the person who has. When you haven’t had a kidney stone, you say something like this: “Wow, that sounds bad! I hear those are painful!” The person who has had a kidney stone is more specific about their reality: “I thought I was going to die. The pain was mind-blowing.”

This last week, I experienced a kidney stone while swimming. I thought I pulled a muscle and after massaging the muscle, it seemed better. Things went downhill in the next few hours. I was alone at home and all at once, overcome by so much pain, I could hardly breathe. The pain was excruciating. I called a friend when I couldn’t get my husband. Thankful for both, I was able to get to urgent care and subsequently the hospital emergency room. After a long day there, I got released, armed with meds to sustain me.

Who doesn’t want out of their pain? All I could think of was “Help me with my pain! I can’t take it!” It’s only normal to want to be well. We want to be over what is bothering us. That’s only normal. There’s a great quote on Pinterest: “This too shall pass. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.” I guess it sounds like a good saying to post in your office, but I need a bit more encouragement than that. It sounds like massive pain is involved in that quote.

The phrase “this too shall pass” isn’t directly found in the Bible. However, this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 seems appropriate for dealing with any time of pain, burden, or suffering we carry: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

For the believer in Christ, this verse says that temporary hardships will eventually pass and be replaced by something greater; essentially conveying the idea that “this too shall pass.” When we look at what is seen, all we see is the light troubles, even though it doesn’t seem very light! But when we look at the things not seen, then we can see and appreciate an eternal glory.

In our short time of distress and pain, the result will be God’s richest blessing upon us. Being human, we just want out of our pain as soon as possible. What if God is allowing the pain for a purpose? Not to just get through it, but to gain more of God in it?

Will all things pass? Things do not always get better. The Bible never suggests that life will get better if you wait things out. It says that “the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 had hope. He knew that every day he was being made more like Christ. He knew he had to see his situation considering eternity. He looked at what he couldn’t see. We would be wise to do the same.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Shame

What is shame? Have you experienced shame? If so, where does shame show up in your mind and heart?

Shame often signifies a deep feeling of unworthiness or inadequacy related to one’s spiritual self. It frequently stems from the perception that one has fallen short somehow. It is usually a voice in our minds that whispers lies to us. Spiritual shame makes us feel like we don’t quite measure up. We feel like we’re not good enough. Shame is a deep-seated sense of unworthiness. You may feel like you’re not valuable and that people don’t like you.

Let’s look at Luke 5:12-15 to get a look at a man who experienced shame:

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’ Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.”

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have leprosy! It sounded beyond awful! Can you imagine the shame? Can you imagine living in a place where when people saw you, they moved away from you, keeping their distance? People with leprosy were treated as outcasts and shunned by society. They were excluded from their families and communities. They lived on the outskirts of town as beggars. They were required to warn others not to come near them.

I love when the leper saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (5:12) The leper didn’t ask if he could heal him, but if He was willing to heal him. Jesus gave this leper the divine gift of compassion and healing. Kristi McLelland writes “Jesus moved toward him, reached for him, spoke to him, healed him, and sent him to the priests to fulfill Levitical law.”

It's Jesus who made the man clean. It’s Jesus who makes us clean, by inviting Jesus inviting into our hearts and experiencing His salvation. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus; He’s not ashamed of you! Jesus is the healer of wounded and shame-filled souls. Psalm 147:3 says “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

You are a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. Your worth and value come from God alone, not from what others say about you or do to you. You are who God says You are. 

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Who's Safe?

You may have had your head in the sand last week if you missed the blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic was traded to LA for Anthony Davis, along with some other players. Luka was probably one of the most popular players in the history of Dallas sports. Dallas fans were not happy.

The Dallas Maverick franchise was built on loyalty, and respect, and treated players and fans as if they were part of a family. But Mark Cuban gave up his General Manager duties to a shoe salesman who was the one who traded Luka to LA. Fans were shocked, furious, and literally in disbelief. Luka seemed in shock as well. He thought he would spend the rest of his years playing basketball in Dallas.

Anthony Edwards, a player in the NBA, said “I’m scared…yeah, yeah, I’m scared. If my owner is gonna trade me let me know. When Luka got traded anybody can get traded at this point.” Nikola Jokic, another player, said “Seems like nobody’s safe, and probably should be that way, you know.” Devin Booker said “It’s crazy man. I really don’t know what to say about it. You just can’t predict it, it’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you, so don’t think you’re safe at any point.”

I guess we should not be shedding too many tears for these guys getting traded. They’re super rich and can pretty much do what they want. However, wait. They're STILL human beings with feelings, friends, hopes, and dreams and a place they call home.

The truth is we can all struggle with feeling safe. Whether it’s feeling safe in our jobs, safe with our health, or safe with our education, deep down, we struggle too. We could be doing a half marathon one day and the next day experience a serious injury.

How do we find a sense of security and protection from the craziness of circumstances around us? No matter what life throws our way, we can find safety in Christ’s love. You and I are always cherished and loved by God. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we enjoy a personal relationship with Him. Jesus' love is unconditional. He will never trade you, leave you, reject you, or betray you. When we get that our identity and well-being are rooted in God’s love (not our exceptional work, title, skills, or popularity) we find a sure and safe haven in God’s love despite the external circumstances.

I love the words of Tabitha Panariso “We can be led into this life, not in fear of rejection, but in the safety of Christ’s love. We can live at peace with ourselves even when someone turns their back on us. We can come without our weapons to those who accuse us and reject us, fully believing that the Lord’s voice and authority forms, guides, and protects us.”(Loyal in His Love)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Life is a Vapor

One thing we’ve learned from the recent California fires and the airplane crashes is the stark reminder that life is fragile. I still can’t fathom that my friend and her husband lost everything in the California fires. It was grievous to see the pictures of the young skaters and adults who lost their lives in the DC crash.

How do we deal with the brevity of life? Look at these verses in The Message:

“And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, ‘Today- at the latest, tomorrow- we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.’ You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, ‘If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.’”  (James: 14-15 The Message)

It's so easy to think that life will just go the way we want and we will miss the problems and tragedies. Yet this verse in James tells us that life is a vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

Did those people boarding the plane wake up that morning and even consider that this might be their last day alive? I wonder if my friends from Altadena at the beginning of the year considered they might lose their home very soon. Not at all!

Why do we think we can boast about our future plans? Do we plan our lives realizing we can’t predict the future? Do we comprehend the fragility of our existence? If anything we’ve learned this week is of the uncertainty of life.

But wait! This verse also speaks about the importance of humility and dependence on God. By saying “if the Lord wills” we are acknowledging that our plans on totally contingent on God’s will. We can’t rely on our abilities.

Finally, are we aware of our need for God? This verse addresses people who are super confident in their own power and future. They think they know best. What would it look like if you daily demonstrated a humble reliance on God’s guidance?

Does this mean that we quit planning? Not at all! Instead, we practice gratitude for each day we’ve been given on this earth. We plan with prayer, asking God for wisdom and the Holy Spirit to guide us to know what to do in His timing. As we partner with God, He truly wants to guide us all the days of our lives.

Prayer: “Father, there’s no safer place to be in life or in death- than in Christ. Because you’ve hidden our lives in Jesus, not a hair can fall from our heads, not a breath can be taken from our lungs, and not a beat can be missed by our hearts apart from your sovereign purposes and pleasure. And should I die in the next hour, my heart will forever proclaim, ‘My God has done all things well.’ I pray with great gratitude in Jesus’ most worthy name. Amen.” (Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.