Adversity: Part Two

I am currently facing a time of adversity. It is 2017, and for the third time in my life, I am homeless. Despite this small calamity, which to shall pass, I feel extremely blessed. I have a place to stay at a shelter, food to eat, a place to shower and shave, and enough money for a good "cup of Joe" to start my day.

While you have seen this verse in a previous chapter, it bears repeating. In Philippians 4: 4-7, Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:  Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."

Recently, I felt I had a clear understanding and vision for the next step in my life. In many ways, I feel that I have squandered opportunity after opportunity, for the better part of the last ten years. I have now come to the realization that it was a time for growth. The Lord was guiding me, even in my absence, relationally, for that time. I say that I was "absent" because I was not tapping into God's vast array of resources on a daily basis. I like to think that has changed.

But I grew closer. Paul says in Philippians 4: 10-13, "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

I felt strongly that I was being called to Atlanta, Georgia. I recently returned after spending six weeks there from Thanksgiving through the New Year's holiday. This leap began in October, 2016, leaving Asheville, North Carolina, to take a position which resulted in a two-month stint in Charlotte. It is now evident, at least for the time being, that perhaps I was NOT prepared to leave Asheville. I, without a doubt, tend to jump "to the other side", toward "greener grass", to quickly.

The famous music artist from Miami, Pitbull, says it best. In his song entitled "Can't Have", he sings, "The grass looks greener on the other side; till you get to the other side."

Going back to Paul's writing in verses 10-13, Philippians chapter 4, it is easy when we feel removed or far away from God, to feel as if he has no concern for us. Paul states in the first sentence, "at last you renewed your concern for me." Let's examine this.

I was the one who did not ask for His guidance and with expectancy of the resulting answers and blessings, yet He was ever present. God is the most equipped "Navy Seal" known to man. To this very day, a Seal has never left a fellow warrior on the battlefield; dead or alive.

You can be confident that God is omnipresent. He has the appropriate resources, at the ready, at the appropriate time, when we face combat within ourselves in the world. And at times, the war is long. Reaching out to Him, tapping into His arsenal, allows us to remain appropriately equipped for battle at the exact date and time that we need Him.

The second part of verse 10 goes on to say, "Indeed you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it." Paul is very discerning and spot-on with this. God has the absolute ability to be concerned and have concern for us. How, do you ask? By having a consistent and constant dialogue with Him, our Savior, gives us our ability to have Him remain in us. How can we expect God to be ever-present; even though He is always available, if we do not maintain a dialogue with Him? You cannot receive for what you do not ask in prayer.

We need to remember that are God is OMNIPRESENT! Always available. Day or night, minute-by-minute and even second-by-second, rest assured He is there. The best part; in humility because of His abounding love for us, he can always be reached. It is in His very nature to be available.

Did Jesus not make time for the tax collector and the harlot alike? The blind and the able-bodied? Indeed he was there for them, and it is the same for you and I, two-thousand years later.

He lives!

Something quite deep to ponder and reflect upon.