Are You Faithful?

The check engine light came on this morning on my 2004 Kia.  No, I don't drive a fancy car.  I love my little car that gets me where I need to go and is content with my regular oil changes.  My heart sank.

I was on my way to help my husband clean our coffee roasting warehouse.  I do not love cleaning our warehouse.  I was in a bad, dare I say, even perhaps, a cranky mood.  Why do I have to clean up after everyone?  Why don't I get any help?  I tell the Lord, "You told me everything would be okay!  You told me that you would multiply what I have lost and bless us beyond what I could even imagine."

I know in the back of my mind I am CRAZY blessed.  There are those in the rest of the world that would love to have my problems.  After all, I don't dodge bullets and we have never gone hungry.  The biggest crisis at my house is running low on toilet paper.

I hear the Lord through my Mother's voice.  "Calm down."  I didn't so much feel like calming down.  I would like to stay pissed off.  I don't know why.

Then I remember we have good friends that own a car repair shop.  I remember that we have just paid off two credit cards this last month.  I remember that we are going to be okay.  My attitude changes.

My family and I have had great loss.  We have lost tens of thousands of dollars.  We have lost family.  I lost my Mother.  We lost my husband's brother.  We have had so many things go wrong in our lives that it seems insurmountable to overcome.  But I know that God has called me to press on.

Marriage isn't easy.  My husband and I fight a lot over things, but at least now we talk about everything.  Even if the topic is uncomfortable.  Even if we yell, he knows what is on my mind and heart, and I know what is on his.  When I came home after the light went on, I told him, "I feel like it is ridiculous to ask me to clean up the warehouse, if you refuse to pitch in with our home!  You expect me to have three full-time jobs, and I can't possibly do any of them well if I don't have your support."  He understood.  He said he was sorry and promised to make sure the kids were doing more to help.

I am faithful to my husband.  I am faithful to my business.  It is hard, I work long hours.  I do things that break down my body, but I am not joking when I hear very clearly, "Press on" from the Lord.  Days like today, I don't feel much less pressing anything.

Faithfulness isn't a feeling.  It isn't temporary.  Faith is the very essence of the word.  You must believe no matter what happens, no matter what storms come, you will be just fine.  God does hold us.  Even when check engine lights come on.  Even when we lose, God is there.

Being faithful to Christianity seems crazy to some.  When problems surface in a marriage, sure, divorce seems much easier than continuing to work through bitterness, anger, and misfortune.  Keep pressing.  Being faithful to God when your finances take multiple hits, it seems crazy to keep tithing and giving.  Give anyway.

It is easy to be faithful to one thing, or a few people, but greatness comes when you are faithful in much.  God enables us to do what seems impossible to the rest of humanity, be people that are unconditionally faithful. 

 DUE TO "SCRAPER" SCUM IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THE FOLLOWING NOTICE IS FOR YOU: (C) June 20, 2014 United States of America.  H.Jennings.  Any misuse or illegal scrapping of content constitutes copyright infringement.  Please email contact the web administrator for written authorization to re-post or quote any information on these pages.