Thursday, May 6, 2010

Light Affliction





Sitting in my car (seems like God talks a lot to me while in the car) at a stop light. I tapped my fingers restlessly while looking at other people in their vehicles. Thoughts of the past few months whipped in my head. Let's see, we've had four buyers for our house, all of whom have walked away. We have had the house on the market over a year trying to do short-sells. My husband has applied to so many jobs and is constantly rejected over and over, and now we have one month to move out and find a rental home. On and on the thoughts had processed into my mind as I waited and waited at the red light. Why on earth was everything a constant wait, or rejection? That's when God spoke to my heart.


"Jessica, what are you doing?"


"Waiting at a red stop-light."


"Why are you waiting?"


"Because the light is red."


"Jessica, what would happen to you right now if you were to run that light while it's red?"


Glancing up I notice a large semi-truck zoom through the intersection.


"I would have been hit and killed by that truck."


"Jessica, right now you have a destination in mind, and its painful to have to wait. Right now you are at a stop-light not just waiting, but I am protecting you. If you were to run ahead of me, you would be seriously injured. I am protecting you from something far greater than you understand right now."


"Wow, Father, I never thought of that before."


"And Jessica how long do you have to wait at a stop-sign?"


"Not very long."


"But for a moment."


Armed with new revelation, as I went to church last night to work with our college and career students, my husband delivered a powerful message called, "Hanging By a Comma". Needless to say it came out his broken spirit and humble attitude. One of the verses he shared was:


2 Corinthians 4:17 (New King James Version)


17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.


Oh my! God kept speaking...and He has a sense of humor too. For our LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is BUT FOR A MOMENT, is WORKING FOR US a FAR MORE EXCEEDING and eternal weight of glory.


Really, How awesome is God? Although we may desire to be where we know we should be know, until our character and maturity match or vision, we cannot hold it's weight. Being processed in the waiting periods of our lives is necessary to bear the weight of our destination.


Yes, we may not understand this issue with the house and finances, or why everything we have knocked on has come to say no. But for a moment.......


Blessings,


Jessica Smith

6 comments:

Jim Killebrew said...

I enjoyed your article. You have a nice style of writing and your content is very meaningful. Thanks for sharing.

If you have time in your busy day I would like to invite you to visit my blog as well. I am a Christian writer and try to write things that are uplifting and true to the Bible. You can find my work at http://www.jimkillebrew.blogspot.com/

Thanks again

JJ said...

I enjoyed your article too, you are a excellent writer.

Jessica Smith said...

Thanks so much both of you! Jim, I have gone to your blog and I am imporessed! I am working towards my Dr. in Pastoral Counseling so it is good to see other christians who approach healing mind, body, soul, and spirit!!!

JJ, thanks so much! I am going to writing more often. Thanks for reading!! I look forward to getting to know you more!

Blessings,

Jessica Smith

Serendipity said...

I enjoyed your article.. You look positively in life and like me there are times i asked god why this things are happening to me and i strongly believe god has plans to me.. i'd love to chat with you. this is my yahoo account cscherryrose@yahoo.com. God bless

Colin P. Fagan said...

Jessica:

"Being processed in the waiting periods of our lives is necessary to bear the weight of our destination."

Whoa! That is wonderfully said. This has been a lesson I've been learning over the past few years. There is some serious wisdom in this phrase and I will continue to meditate on this.

I equally enjoy the final remarks.

Thank you for the thought provoking words.

Colin Fagan

Christina Gail said...

I was just looking through some of the blogs posted on Christian Women Blogs, and read this post on yours. It was a blessing that caused months of tears of frustration to be transformed into tears of a renewing love and trust for my Father. Thank you for this message. His ways and timing are perfect!