This past week, Gary and I decided to take a few days away before the fall begins. We decided to head to Jacksonville where Gary’s sister lives on the beach. Unfortunately, Hurricane Debbie had the same plans, so Monday we sat indoors and watched the rain and wind all day long. Around 4pm that day, two young boys, about seven years old, walked by the house battling the wind with their umbrellas, barely able to hold on to them.
My immediate thought was there was a mom out there who was at the end of her rope because of those boys who had been rough housing all day, and she finally had enough and found two umbrellas and showed them the door. Why else would you send your young sons out into a hurricane? Of course, I don’t know what happened, maybe they had sneaked out of the house, but I like my version better.
I think most of us know what it feels like to be at the end of our rope. It may be small things, or it may be big issues, but sometimes we just hit the wall, and we feel like we cannot continue to do what we have been doing. Sometimes this is a good thing. Maybe we will finally get off the couch and start exercising. Maybe we will finally start looking for a new job. All we know is that we are finally ready for a change. Even a hard change.
One time I was so frustrated by my life that I actually explained to God what the end of my rope meant. I told Him I had been hanging on to the rope for a long time and I was now down to the last knot, and I was going to let go any day. I think I was threatening God with my explanation. I was so tired of waiting and I felt God had let me down.
When you do hit these kinds of moments, it is important to understand that in these spaces of desperation, God is often doing some of His best work in our lives. He might be teaching us faith or perseverance. He might be changing our perspective or helping us reframe the situation. Whatever God is doing may not feel like enough, but that is when we need to be reminded of the words found in Philippians 1:6 "I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus." Don’t give up on God. He never gives up on us.
Remember, being at the end of our rope is a feeling. Feelings matter, but they should not push us to do something unhealthy. Talk about your feelings and remember that while we may not like the timing of God, it is still perfect because it is God’s timing. And no matter how irritating your children are, don’t put them outside during a hurricane!
Comments