Dear Friends of Ebenezer,
As I consider the lives of the two Presidents whose birthday we celebrate this month – Abraham Lincoln and George Washington – it occurs to me that all of us have things that come into our lives that sometimes lift us up, and then, all of a sudden, just as surely as time goes on, there comes something else that brings us back down again. It has always been that way and it will always be that way.
Someone pointed out that, “If ever a man had cause to complain it was Job in the Hebrew Bible. At least, most of us, if we were in his position would think so. He had been very wealthy. None other of his day had ever had it so good. He had oxen and asses and sheep and camels in abundance. A fine family, many friends, a good reputation were all his. But that was yesterday! Stripped of wealth and health, he sat in an ash pile and scraped his sores with a piece of broken pottery. He had sores–probably running sores–all over his body. The pain was excruciating. His breath was foul. (Job 17:1) His flesh was ‘clothed with worms and dust’ (7:5). His children were all dead!” (What did you say your problem was again??) When his friends first came to see him, he was so sick they did not even recognize him. When they finally did they tore their clothes and threw dust on their heads. For seven days they did not utter a word. In distress and misery Job broke the silence. He cursed the day of his birth. He despised life. He wished he had never been born. He thought the grave was better than the cradle.
Job had something to be bitter about! If there is any comfort in knowing things could get worse, we can get it from looking at Job’s life. There is however, not a great deal of comfort in knowing that some character who lived several thousand years ago had a harder time than we are having.
Success or failure in life will not depend upon whether we have misfortunes or not; but rather on how we face these experiences and the kind of attitude we have toward them. What are you going to do when things you have planned are knocked down? Those on the football field who does not know how to lose will try to cover their defeat by getting mad. Others just surrender to self–pity.
When we are confronted with the feeling that our world is about to come apart because of something that has happened–we lose our job, our home, failed at marriage, failed at school, etc.–what do we do?
The Lord never promised freedom from these problems, but He did promise strength to cope and to overcome if we ask for help. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But GOD keeps (GOD’S) promise and will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm, at the time you are put to the test, (GOD) will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you a way out” [Good News Bible]. (I Thess. 5:16-18)
Someone compiled the following information about President Abraham Lincoln. How many times he could have said, “There is no use to keep on!”, but he did not.
–Failed in business at age 22
-Ran for Legislature at age 23
-Again failed in Business at age 24
-Elected to Legislature at age at age 25
-His Sweetheart died at age 26
-Had a nervous breakdown at age 27
-Defeated for Speaker at age 29
-Defeated for Elector at age 31
-Defeated for Congress at age 34
-Elected to Congress at age 37
-Defeated for Congress at age 39
-Defeated for Senate at age 46
-Defeated for Vice President at age 47
-Defeated for Senate at age 49
-Elected President of the United States at age 51
One little fellow was leading his sister up a mountain path and the way was not easy. The little girl complained, “This is not a path at all–it is all rocky and bumpy.” Her brother replied, “Sure, the bumps are what you climb on.”
Keep the faith and keep praying, especially in this New Year.
Your Brother,
Ted
