Invisible Guidance

Walter, Tommy and Janelle Stoermer

     "We really enjoyed the movie," I told my husband Walter.  My in-laws were visiting us from California.  They had come to visit with their new grandson Tommy.  Their presence had given us the chance to go see a movie we had hoped to see (the movie itself plays no part in this post, but in case you wondered, it was Jesus Revolution.  I can write a whole post about that movie.  All I will say here is that the movie was very personal to me, as it is based on real events in Southern California about twelve years before I was born, and it shaped the Christian community I grew up in).  Anyway, my husband and his father had gone to see the movie, while his mother and I played with Tommy, then we switched places.  My mother-in-law and I had really enjoyed the movie.  I couldn't wait to talk about it and sort of "debrief" about it with Walter.  

     I was met with a report that Tommy had been a typical two-year-old.  They had played with Tommy for a while, but while my husband and father-in-law had gotten into a deep theological discussion (debriefing from the movie themselves), Tommy had dumped out all the bubble bath on the floor, pulled all the toilet paper off the rolls in the bathrooms, and made a mess! Walter had cleaned up the mess, and put Tommy in his room with his toys, putting up the baby gate (it was almost Tommy's bedtime, and they wanted to just let him play until I got home, and our family could do our nightly ritual of bedtime story and prayer together). 

     "But he's been playing.  He's fine," I was told.  I decided to check on this.  

     I went upstairs to Tommy's room.  He was perfectly safe, and very happy.  That's what counts.  I was met by a delightfully beaming child, surrounded by every toy he owned, dumped out on the floor.  He had pulled off his pants and diaper, and had done number two on the carpet.  He giggled, then said, "Ewww!"  He always says, "Ewww!" when something yucky happens.  I was so stressed by the site, but I couldn't afford to wait.  First order of business was to clean up the BM mess, and get Tommy cleaned up.  That accomplished (it took longer than just "that accomplished" but I'm moving past it in the narrative!), I looked at the room covered with toys.  I wished I was Mary Poppins, and could just sing "Spoonful of Sugar" and snap my fingers and the room would clean itself!  

      In the first several weeks of being a foster (soon-to-be-adoptive) mother, I have learned so much about the Lord and His love for us.  Like Tommy, I have faced stressful situations, sometimes of my own making, and sometimes just where the buck stopped with me.  Looking at the mess is overwhelming!  But it was my responsibility to clean it up.  Or was it?  

     I knew Tommy was not capable of cleaning up the mess if I were to just tell him, "Pick this all up" and leave him to it.  He might pick up a few toys, but he is incapable of doing the whole thing without guidance.  So I sat down with him.  "Tommy, pick up that block," I said, pointing at a specific block.  He obediently did so.  "Now put it in the box," I pointed at the correct box.  Again he obeyed.  I did this for a while, and he was obediently picking up, but doing it that way would take all night.  So as Tommy picked up his toys, one by one, I started also picking up toys with him, putting them away.  I wasn't doing the job for him.  I was doing it with him.  He didn't even catch that I was quietly doing it too.  He was just focused on the job he had been given.  In the end, I picked up well over half of the mess, but he worked the whole time, thinking he was doing it all.  Walter saw his parents to their hotel for the night, then came back and also helped.  When we all finished, Tommy yelled "Yea!" and clapped.  Walter read him his bedtime story, and we all prayed.

     I learned a lot about Christ through this experience.  I don't visually see Him working with me as I follow His leading, but He is.  God doesn't just give orders and watch me do it.  He does it with me.  He does much more than I do.  First Thessalonians 5:24 says, He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.  Likewise, Ephesians 3:20 says, Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.  God works in and through us, but He also works around us, when we don't even know it.  He wants us to succeed, and He helps us.  He guides us.  And ultimately, He does it!  We aren't really doing anything.  God is doing the work, and He calls us to work with Him!  It is encouraging to know I work with a loving God.

Jury Duty

      Some years ago, I served jury duty.  I have been summoned many times in my adult life for jury duty.  With one or two exceptions, every time I was summoned, I ended up at least having to come in to the courthouse for a day of waiting to see if I would be assigned to a case.  Almost all of those times, I was sent to a courtroom for a case, and more waiting ensued to see if I would be picked.  Several of those times, I was on the juror panel as the attorneys questioned us to determine if having us as jurors on their trial would help or hurt their case.  Out of all of that, I have only actually been a sworn-in juror on one trial.  And boy, did I learn a lot!  

     It was an interesting experience.  I felt like I was on Matlock or Perry Mason as I listened to the lawyers and witnesses.  The trial lasted four days, and we deliberated one day, so my service was one week.  I actually found the whole experience very interesting.  I enjoyed being part of the justice system, and getting to know my fellow jurors.  Some aspects of the trial were even funny.  But I also learned something that is true of the Christian life as well.  

     All along, we had been told we had to find on the evidence.  This meant that we were to learn everything about the case from what was said and submitted in the courtroom.  We were not allowed to go and try to research it ourselves, or try to find additional info on it.  We were supposed to be fair and impartial, and form our beliefs about it based solely on what was presented.  We weren't allowed to talk about it with anyone else, because they might taint our opinions.  This was drilled into us at every session.  The judge would admonish us with this every time there was a break, and we left the courtroom.  

     Before the jurors went to deliberate and render a verdict, the prosecution made a very interesting point that really applies to all of life.  He reminded us how we had been told we had to find on the evidence, but he added, "But that doesn't mean you check your common sense in at the door when you come in."  He gave this example.  We were on the third or fourth floor of a six-story building, and there were no windows in the courtroom.  We had been in the courtroom several hours.  As such, we had no way of knowing what the weather was like outside.  He said, "What if someone came into this room dripping wet and said, 'I really need to get a new umbrella!'.  Would that prove it was raining outside?"  The answer was no, it would not prove, but it would strongly indicate that it was raining outside.  He asked, "Is there any other possible reason someone might come in wet, and happen to mention needing a new umbrella?"  He raised the possibility that the person could have been walking across the lawn when the sprinklers came on, and he got soaked, and then happened to be reminded that he intended to buy a new umbrella soon.  But the most likely possibility would be that the person actually got caught in the rain.  

     To further illustrate his point, he made a more obvious example.  He said, "There's a state in the US I'm going to talk about.  You have to figure out which one based on the evidence.  Here is the evidence.  It was founded in 1850, after gold was discovered there two years earlier.  This state touches the Pacific Ocean.  This state has a baseball team called the Dodgers.  It is right next to a state that starts with an N and has legalized gambling."  As this trial was happening in Riverside, California, we all knew he was describing our own state.  He didn't technically say it was California, but finding on the evidence gave us no other alternative.  

     In conclusion, he gave a ludicrous example.  "What if a piece of chocolate cake you'd been saving for a snack had a bite taken out of it, and your child was found with chocolate frosting smudged all over his front teeth.  When you asked the child if he took the bite out of the cake, he said no, the neighbor kid next door came over and took the bite out of the cake, then decided they should play dentist together, and he was the dentist and your child was the patient, and the dentist smeared frosting on your child's teeth in pretending he was giving him a flouride treatment.  Would you believe your child?"  This was a ridiculous example, meant to show that not every possibility is likely enough to consider.  

     In reaching our verdict, he urged us to think through all possibilities, and go with what was most likely true, if we were convinced "beyond a reasonable doubt."  The example he had just given us about the cake was obviously the child's (or defendant's) attempt to manipulate evidence to say something it really didn't say.  The example about California was something we could determine beyond any doubt.  Some things are like that.  The first example, about knowing if it was raining, would be a little less obvious, because there could be other possibilities (even if less likely).  That was why we needed to use our God-given common sense in the deliberation process.  

     By the way, we found the defendant guilty.  That's another story, though.  

     Sometimes in life, we have to make a judgment about something.  John 7:24 tells us, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.  Judging righteously sometimes requires a little work to get to the truth.  Not only do we need our common sense, but we need our Bible sense.  We find on the evidence, but we use God's word and discernment to reach that judgment.  

     What if you were on an emergency errand in the middle of the night, and you happened to drive past your pastor's house, and as you did, you noticed a car in the driveway that belonged to a single young woman in the community.  You have no facts, but it has the potential to get you thinking that something might be going on that shouldn't.  The car in his driveway is the evidence.  In fact, it is what is called circumstantial evidence.  But before you make a judgment that the pastor and this woman are in a compromising situation, ask yourself if there is another possibility.  Could the pastor and his wife be giving this woman counsel?  Could the pastor be borrowing her car because his is in the shop?  Could she have left her car there for the pastor to fix (since he's a mechanic on the side)?  Is it possible that isn't her car, but just looks like it?  To all of those questions, yes!  Any of those things are possible.  Given what you know about your pastor, would it be likely he would compromise like that?  If not, why not judge that nothing wrong is going on, and it isn't really your business?  That's an easy one, but let's look at some harder ones, that actually might be your business.

     What if you are in charge of a ministry at your church, and a new person comes in who really seems to fill a lot of needs you have.  They appear to be an answer to prayer, in fact.  But a few people come to you, saying this person is being divisive, or even abusive?  What are you going to do?  How will you determine the truth?  

     What if you have an uneasy feeling about the way your boss manages money, and you start to wonder if something unethical or even illegal is happening?  How do you figure our the reality of the situation, and what you're supposed to do about it?  

     What if a Bible teacher you really respect criticizes another ministry you also respect?  How do you figure out what to believe about it?  

     What if someone you know is making you uneasy.  They're crossing boundaries with other people, but no one else seems to mind it.  It just really makes you uncomfortable.  What do you do?  

     Your pastor starts making statements in his messages that rub you the wrong way, and seem a little off and unbiblical, but they're not about salvation issues, and aren't totally clear anyway.  Where do you go from there?  

     So often, we hear "Don't judge!" to the point that we're afraid to use our brains to form any sort of conclusions about anything.  Yet, as has already been shared, John 7:24 tells us we are supposed to judge, but to do it righteously.  Just like the prosecuting attorney told us not to check in our common sense at the door, we need to make sure we don't check in our Bible sense at the door.  Yes, we find on the available evidence.  We don't let our own ideas cloud the truth.  And yet we also weigh in biblical truth and discernment.  Ask God for wisdom. There is a promise in James 1:5 that He will give it if you ask: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  Ask God for wisdom.  He will give it!  Then, ask Him to reveal the truth.  Jesus promised in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit would guide believers into all truth.  With His help, search out the situation with the available evidence you have.  Do not gossip or spread it around needlessly, but it is okay to get insight from a safe person.  I'm going to give a caveat to this in the next paragraph, but when God has revealed the truth to you, speak out boldly!  The apostles spoke out boldly, sometimes even using people's names, when something was wrong (a few examples are Galatians 2:11-14; Philippians 4:2-3; Second Timothy 4:10; Third John verses 9-10).  This doesn't mean you try to humiliate them.  It means when you know (not just suspect) the truth, and have done your due diligence, and then speak out on what you know.  Don't speak beyond that.  Don't try to speculate about more than you know.  Make sure your own personal vengeance and biases are not part of it.  Ephesians 4:15 says to speak the truth in love.  

     Sometimes, the truth isn't as clear as we'd like.  Using the example of your boss possibly being unethical with money, you may not be able to determine what is going on.  If God doesn't reveal the situation to you, and you are not able to learn anything from what is available to you, do not speak out, because you don't know the situation.  As I said in the previous paragraph, only speak out what you know.  Maybe God doesn't reveal it all to you.  But He will reveal to you what you are to do.  Maybe you are led to leave the job with the possibly unethical boss.  Maybe you are led to leave the church where the pastor is making seemingly unbiblical statements.  Maybe you are led to stay away from the person who seems to have boundary problems.  Not every seeming problem is a cause for us to majorly expose.  Sometimes it is, but other times, we just move on, or let go.  God will show you what go do.  In the end, He will bring everything to light (Luke 8:17).  

     Always seek out the truth.  Weigh the evidence you have, and consider all possibilities.  Ask questions appropriately, while avoiding spreading gossip.  God gave you common sense.  He gave you the Bible.  He gave you the Holy Spirit.  You have everything you need to get to the answers!  The next time you get a jury summons, you'll be prepared.  

Rough Road

      Have you ever looked at someone who seemed to have it so easy, and envied them?  Maybe you didn't exactly covet their precise situation, but maybe you compared how easy things seemed to come together for them to how hard it appeared to be for you.  I'm guessing here, but I imagine we all do that.  

     A child from an abusive background might look at children with loving parents and wonder why those children have it so much easier.  Someone who struggled academically may wonder why others breeze through schoolwork.  Those who have trouble finding work may wonder why some just seem to stumble into professional success.  Those "unlucky in love" may wonder what they're doing wrong when they see others marrying their first-ever sweetheart.  

     There are many other examples.  Insert your own struggle.  We have struggled with infertility, and are now adopting a precious little boy.  The process is far from over, though, and we need continued prayer as all the legal proceedings go through.  In the hardest moments, it was easy to look at people who just seemed to have children without a hitch, and wonder Why not us?  We never coveted their children or wished they were ours.  We just wanted it to work out for us too.  Sometimes, irrational is it seems, it was easy to wonder if God liked them better than us.  This is totally unbiblical thinking, but it is easy to fall into at desperate moments.  

     I don't know exactly why things seem to work out better for one person than for someone else, but I do know it isn't true across the board.  By that, I mean, while someone may have it easier than me in one area, it doesn't mean every aspect of their life is 100% easier than mine.  There might be things that are easier for me that I'm just not taking notice of.  No one's life is simple and perfect.  Sin came into the world in Genesis 3, and brought everything down with it.  Weeds grow with flowers.  Illness comes with health.  Hurt with joy.  Romans 8:22 says, For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  All of creation is crying for the redemption that is coming!  It is okay to cry for the hard things!  But this passage is so encouraging, because, a few verses earlier, it says, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  

     Life isn't fair.  That's something we are told from a young age, and it is the truth.  Life doesn't level out and become equal.  If we were to tally up all the difficulties we've faced and compare them with everyone else on the planet, it would surely not be an equal list of difficulties for everyone.  But it would reveal that no one's life is smooth sailing.  Life is hard.  It can be joyful and wonderful, but it is hard work too.  For everyone.  

     I used to look at people who didn't have the same hardship as me, and thought they had it easy.  But I was wrong.  No one has it easy.  Life hurts.  Not only that, but I didn't know the other person's whole story.  Maybe they had a whole battle in getting to where they are, and I just didn't know it.  As Christians, we have a job to do in this sin-sick world full of hurting people.  We carry the light of Jesus.  Matthew 5:14 says, You are the light of the world... We are to shine for Christ so the world can see Him through their pain.  

     Returning to Romans 8, I am deeply encouraged by verse 24, For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  In God, we always have hope, both for this life, and for eternity.  We don't see it, but we believe, because God has promised.  That's what faith is.  God always has a plan for us.  He is working for our good (Romans 8:28).  

     So what can we do?  First, show compassion for those who are broken and suffering.  It could be someone with a serious disease or going through something very obvious, or it could be the person who sits in the pew in front of you at church who always acts cheerful, but has a burning hearts desire that hasn't come true yet.  Always show compassion and kindness.  Second, don't take anything for granted.  Recognize how blessed you are.  There are people waiting and longing for what God has given you.  Thank God for your spouse, children, job, home, etc.  People who have to wait and suffer a little tend to be very grateful for what they get when it finally comes.  If any of that came easily for you, recognize that as a gift.  Thank God for your blessings.  Third, share your testimony.  It would probably really encourage other to hear how God came through for you in your difficult times.  ...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (Second Corinthians 1:4).  

     Finally, do what Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  (Mark 8:34)