It was one of those moments when time seemed to stand still. A guest speaker was standing in front of our church family, and he said these simple words:
"As a believer, almost nothing that happens in your life, good or bad, is about you."
What?!? What do you mean it's not about me? Everything that happens in my life is about me! (Well...I know that's not supposed to be how we view life's ups and downs, but in reality, that's kind of what happens, right?)
I got a raise. (Translation: God must really think I'm awesome!)
I got laid off. (Translation: God must be really mad at me! Uh-oh, I'm screwed...)
My kids are healthy. (Translation: God loves us more than the Johnsons, because their poor kids always have allergies, asthma, and ADD. How sad...)
I have a car wreck. (Translation: Why, oh why, did God ever put me on this earth?!? I'm the most persecuted human being that ever lived! Please God, take me now! I can't take this anymore...)
And so it goes... Why did this happen to me? Why can't I ever get a break? Why aren't my prayers being answered? What could possibly go wrong next?
But hold on just a second. What if the whole "big picture" of all humankind was actually NOT about you? What if your job status didn't reflect how much God loves you? What if your kids' health was just because they eat right and exercise? What if your car wreck happened because you were sending text messages during rush hour on I-35?
What if it's NOT all about you? Instead of wondering why God never seems to answer your prayers...here's a thought: maybe he wants to use YOU (in your present circumstance, good or bad) to BE the answer to someone else's prayer. Maybe the ultimate goal is HIS GLORY being revealed...not YOUR HAPPINESS being preserved.
If that's true, instead of it making you really, really disappointed (that all of Heaven isn't watching "Truman Show," with you playing Jim Carrey's character), let me offer you another perspective: God loves you, He trusts you, and He believes in you enough to USE YOU in His eternal plan. He knows you can handle whatever comes your way--good or bad. And because of your trust in Him, He knows He can trust you to be a blessing to others.
Cool thought, huh?
Like the opening line of Rick Warren's best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven Life, "It's not about you."
Actually, it's all about Him.
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Pastor David,
ReplyDeleteOnce again you made it plan. Great reference to the Truman Show. I often had that thought many times in my life after watching that movie. Is Heaven watching and playing with me.
One of my prayers, since that encounter with that guest speaker, has been for God to use my family to be the answer to someone else's prayer. Moreover, that we would be sensitive enough to know during our daily encounters with people, we could be the answer to their prayers. My testimony, skill set, listening ear, sharing our home, or giving heart could be what they have been praying for.
It's not about us. It's about God saying: ...Well done, thou good and faithful servant. (Mat 25:21).