Roadblocks Are Opportunties

I can't help but share with you what the Lord revealed to me this morning through prayer and devotional time. It is amazing how quickly our perspective can change, when we finally seek Him instead of a belaboring our problems or hoping for an instant solution.

I woke up this morning to find that my husband was still ill with a fever in bed. I was incredibly overwhelmed, as the past few weeks have been filled with unexpected roadblocks. Three weeks ago, he woke up with swollen glands, so severe we spent the next day in the ER (and he recovered within a week after a high dose of antibiotics). Last week our car essentially died and we went the process of getting a new one (thank you, Jesus). The end of this past week, my little boy was ill. Yesterday, I found that our sweet spiritual daughter spent the day in the ER due to dehydration (so the docs think), and last night, as I was leaving for our big women's event kickoff, my husband was laying on the couch with aches and chills. Needless to day, I am feeling a bit under attack and although I've stood firm, trusting God with each detail for the past few weeks, my trust and faith was wavering this morning. After turning on the coffee, I went straight to the computer to email some of my prayer sisters for support. This is what I wrote,

Hi My Sweet Sisters, I came home from the event at church last night to find Stephen really sick. He was in bed, covered in layers with a 101.4 fever, and miserable. He is still feeling awful this morning, which for him to say so means he is really bad. The big girls had diarrhea last night, too, but they are okay otherwise this morning. I'm hoping it was just something they ate.

I'm tired and borrowing trouble from tomorrow as I think about the week ahead. I still have to get the handouts off to the retreat gals and need time to do one more proofing for typos. Most of all I just hate to see my husband sick. My heart hurts for him. It has been a tough few weeks, which by God's grace I've been able to stand strong, but this bout of illness is wearing me down now. Please pray for me! Please pray for my mind to not worry or dwell on feeling the weight of caring for the family all day today, which feels like more than I can do considering my stress level and weariness. Please pray for God's strength to equip me with His power and joy in the moment.

Still in a pity party and feeling like life was spinning out of control, I hobbled back to the coffee pot and poured a cup. Did I mention that my back was feeling like it was on the brink of going out, too? So I took a detour before heading back to my chair to stretch my back. Lying there on the floor, I began praying.

Suddenly, I wondered why didn't I pray first, before emailing my friends? Before turning on the coffee? Why is God my third stop instead of my first?

I know why! I know full well that God allows the interruptions in life, the detours to "my" plan in order to develop my character, grown my heart toward Him, increase my faith. But I just hate these detours. I don't want to be stretched. I want the hiccups of life to go away and return to normal, peaceful, perfect living. Yet that is not God's way. The Scriptures are replete with suffering, challenges, and difficult circumstances. He wants our dependence and our faithfulness to Him, in the good moments and difficult ones. I'm still learning how to turn to Him, trusting Him when things are hard and I'm feeling hurt.

I finally rose from the floor, with my back feeling a good bit better and headed to my chair to officially start the day with the Lord. As I opened Katie Brazelton's, "Praying for Purpose for Women: A Prayer Experience That Will Change Your Life Forever," this is what I read:

"Ann's biggest roadblock was a control issue that centered around abrupt changes...she would become very agitated and irritated. She did not like feeling that way, because she did not like losing the peace of the Lord. As she began to question her reaction to having her schedule disrupted, it became apparent that she had a choice to make about her negative attitude. She now chooses to let the Lord order her steps, anticipating that He will use her rescheduled times for His plan. Now these roadblocks become times of refreshment and are actually joyful for her! She says, 'I finally figured out that roadblocks are often God's test of character; other times they are just life or the enemy's plan to use discouragement to halt our journey of spiritual growth. I am convinced that obstacles can become incredible doors of opportunities to those who choose to pray their way through them.'"

I quickly had to email my prayer sisters back, including this passage and sharing...

Amazing truths! This is pretty much what I've been writing about in Holy Habits. I missed it in the midst of waking up this morning. But I see the directive from the Lord now. To pray and trust Him in this roadblock of Stephen's illness and time crunch. I shall practice again, "Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways, acknowledge him and He shall direct thy paths."

Thanks for praying! I still need it, but I wanted you to be encourage by a quick change in attitude!

Friends, sometimes our roadblocks are HUGE. Sometimes they are small, like a messy house, a busy schedule, and a sick husband. But no matter what they are, we have a choice in how we will respond. I pray we will develop the habit of running to the Lord first, seek Him and His truth! I pray that we will learn that roadblocks are opportunities to trust the Lord instead of a chance to breakdown in our faith. And I pray that we will allow Him to increase our faith, knowing full well that His plans are far better than ours.

By His Grace and Mighty Power,