Ever been told that everything comes in threes? Recently, in a span of two weeks, our dish washer died, our washing machine died, and our car was totaled. As I told my friends about everything, they responded with, “Well, everything comes in threes, so you should be good from here on out!” I’m not sure that was the most comforting statement. Can we really relax after the third thing happens?

It sure doesn’t feel like it! Once these things happened, you had the inconvenience to your schedule each time something broke down. There was research involved in finding the best replacement, time to shop for the new item, the cost of replacement, and the learning curve of figuring out the new product. Unexpected changes seem to make life hard at times.

Have you ever been to the point in your life where life was just hard? Where hard hit you over and over again? Not sure about you, but when I get to the point where I don’t feel I can take much more, I get a bit more tense, become a loner, and become agitated. Believe me, I’ve found the irony of this word these past few weeks as my dish washer and washing machine were not agitating and cleaning!

Everyday little tasks suddenly change when you go through hard times. Driving in traffic made me agiatated because I kept thinking people were going to hit me again. I would wake up agitated and I didn’t know why. People who never annoyed me suddenly would make me tense. The anxiety inside of my head was building and the stiffness in my muscles was proof I needed this to stop. Something had to give.

As I sat in the chemo room recently with Brian, I looked around the room. It was not the place I had hoped to be sitting. I then realized we were on our fourth thing happening in just a few short weeks. Had we really graduated to our second round of threes or were we just extremely blessed with these unexpected times in our lives?

Contemplating life is not usually a fun task. When I’m ready to gripe and complain, I find that the God-filter is usually my best source in which to start. He seems to have much more patience with my whinning and complaining. The morning after being in the chemo room for the second day, I opened my Bible and prayed for God to calm me and to calm my spirit. I reminded Him (as if I really needed to do so) that I knew I was nothing without Him. I needed Him to remind me that He was with me and had not forsaken me.

I then opened my Bible to Acts 8 where I read about the expansion of the church due to persecution. I jhad just prayed for God to speak to me and I get the lucky “church expansion” passage? “Oh, God, help me, please,” I begged. Want to know what I read about in the notes on verse 4?

“Sometimes we have to become uncomfortable before we’ll move. We may not want to experience it, but discomfort may be best for us because God may be working through our hurts. When you are tempted to complain about uncomfortable or painful circumstances, stop and ask if God might be preparing you for a special task.”

Chronological Life Application Study Bible, NLT, ©2012, Tyndale House Publishers

Uncomfortable? Check. Moving? Yes, I was moving alright: kicking and screaming!

It hit me hard. I had just prayed last month that I would stop feeling stuck. I realized that through all four events, God had been moving me. How does a dish washer move me? It moves me to run to God. Now, granted, it’s not the prettiest run, but it still is a run. It counts because I’m running the marathon of life and I’m running.

Running to God reminds me I’m not lost and His presence is still with me. Because His presence is with me, I’m ensured I matter to Him. His presence, His comfort, His guidance, His acceptance, His love — all with me through every part of my circumstances. All three parts of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all show me He loves me no matter where I am. He is always there to love me in just the right way.

What challenges are you facing today? Are you dragging your feet when you should be moving? In what ways today can you run to God?

© 2020 Susan M. Sims

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