Over the years of my adult life, I’ve had the great privilege of working as a Christian missionary, a pastor and a chaplain. Serving God and others in those roles has been profoundly impactful to me! The combined influence of drinking deeply from the well of God’s word combined with the opportunity to journey with and observe others has been rich! By far the most impactful interactions I’ve had have been with the aged! Observing their dispositions and hearing them tell of their joys, sorrows, regrets and of God’s faithfulness in all of life’s challenges has given me hope and made me a wiser person!
As I reflect on the people I’ve encountered, I immediately recall a winsome, energetic woman whose stroke-impaired husband had just entered the care of the hospice agency I worked for. Jean (not her actual name) was Canadian by birth but had emigrated to the States many years previous. Jean’s winsome manner and magnetic personality was a breath of fresh air to the sometimes dismall interactions this chaplain experienced with others!
As I conducted a spiritual assessment she revealed a rich, fire-tested faith that explained her a hope-filled affect. She described how she intentionally cultivated her relationship to God through personal Bible reading, prayer and journaling. “How did she develop this life-enhancing pattern?” Years earlier, when she was a teenaged girl in Canada, one of her brothers was diagnosed with a rare illness that slowly drew him to his grave. Those were defining days for her and her family. They greived deeply as they watched that beautiful young man suffer. But in the throes of their profound emotional pain, that family encountered an unexpected source of hope and wisdom. “Uncle Bud Robinson” an American Christian evangelist spoke and wrote about knowing and experiencing God in terms that shone the light of God’s hope to this hurting family.
Uncle Bud was a remarkable man! During his long ministry, it is estimated that he traveled over 2,000,000 miles, preached over 33,000 sermons, witnessed more than 100,000 conversions, personally gave more than $85,000.00 in helping young people with their Christian education, secured over 53,000 subscriptions to his church paper, The Herald of Holiness, and wrote 14 books and sold more than 500,000 copies. In spite of his handicaps and physical ailments, speech impediment and lack of education, he made the Who’s Who of California. From Boston to Los Angeles, thousands thronged to hear him, charmed by his homespun wit and his unique presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
His passionate faith and enthusiasm for God is expressed in the following prayer he prayed each morning: “O Lord, give me a backbone as big as a saw-log, and ribs like sleepers (floor joists) under the church floor. Put iron shoes on me and galvanized breeches, and hang a wagon-load of determination in the gable end of my soul. And help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I have a vision, and bite him as long as I have a tooth, and then gum him till I die! Amen!”
Uncle Bud knew, from his study of the Bible, an austere childhood, and vast experience with people, that life in this fallen world frequently deals us difficult, unfavorable circumstances. In his down to earth manner (all pun intended) Uncle Bud Robinson urged them to trust that God, the Master Gardener, was at work in their lives and by so doing they could “bloom where they were planted”, even in the undesirable soil of grief,loss, and disappointment!
By the way, Uncle Bud Robinson, isn’t the originator of the concept of thriving in adversity. Over the years, many other faithful Bible teachers have grounded themselves to God’s promises and expressed that idea in other ways. Consider the words of the prolific writer and Bible teacher Andrew Murray. Murray expressed the belief that God providentially places His own just where He knows they need to be to become what He desires. Let me emphasize that: God providentially places His own just where He knows they need to be to become what He desires.
Andrew Murray expressed this outlook in a sort of list. “First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait (difficult) place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.
Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and work in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last, In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.
Let me say I am here, (1) By God’s appointment, (2) In His keeping, (3) Under His training, (4) For His time.”
Can I ask you a question: Are you blooming and flourishing where God, the Master Gardner, has planted you or are you wasting precious time asking why and attempting to create a way of escape?
Remember, if you’re one of God’s children, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” See Romans 8:28-39
For further encouragement, spend some time reflecting on John 15:1-16
You don’t have to face your struggle alone! Let me know if I can pray for you.
Thank you friend…this was excellent!