Rejoice - We're All Called For Something More

While trying to remain in the holiday spirit, this blog may come to you as something a little out of the ordinary. Instead of trying to get you to wrap your mind around some over-zealous biblical intellect, I’m going to change things up a little; maybe a lot, depending on how you look at it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still looking forward to telling you about Jesus, but maybe in a way we rarely tend to think about Him. Anyway, enough beating around the bush, let’s hop on this ride and see where it goes.

As Christmas approached this year, I found myself lacking the appropriate funding to purchase many of my loved ones gifts for the holiday. In other words, I was poor. So poor that I paid for my cup of Biggby coffee with quarters and dimes I found between the seats of my car. I started to question God’s plan, asking Him daily what He was trying to show me from this. Then I started to think, maybe this isn’t even a God thing at all. Maybe it’s just my lack of responsibility securing this bind? Maybe I’ve just gotten so wrapped up in a sense of comfort, that I lost focus on my duty as a man of God? I just couldn’t figure this one out. In a time where money is so prevalent, why do I not have any?

Then, December 21 happened.

I have this friend, let’s call him Dave, and Dave is engaged to a woman we’ll call Erin. Dave and Erin are your typical twenty-something couple, faithful to the Gospel with loving hearts and sacrificial minds. A few months ago, Dave set his eyes on securing a house for the couple after they wed, abiding to his role as the man in the relationship. Since he had a few months of preparation before the wedding, Dave’s plan was to buy a house, fix it up, and have it move-in ready for the couple when the time came. So Dave put his bid in and played the waiting game (which is actually a really boring game; I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re bored). After weeks and weeks of wrestling with the mortgage companies, Dave’s house fell through (this is the part of the story where you say, “awwww, poor Dave and Erin”). In a mad scramble to find some sort of secure housing, Dave was in what most would call a pickle. Frustrated and tried, Dave and Erin slowly grew impatient with the situation, weighing options on what would be most conventional to the circumstance. With ideas forming of joining the peace core, moving overseas and even attending seminary, Dave and Erin finally decided they would remain in the area (at least for the time being) and continue their duties here. The only problem: Dave and Erin were three months from officially registering homeless. Now, this may seem like plenty of time for your average American to find a home, however, when you’re planning on getting married within those three months, circumstances and priorities tend to change a little. Needless to say, Dave found the couple a wonderful apartment, and things were beginning to look auspicious once again. Did I speak too soon? I think I did.

Dave is a successful man. He has a college degree, a good job, and a nice car. Dave makes good money, thus causing a problem in the particular situation. I know what you’re thinking; how does making good money ever cause any kind of problem? Well, Dave’s apartment was set typically for individuals with low-income, which in turn did not qualify Dave for the apartment (he makes too much money). Strange? Yes. I know. Now Erin was going to re-apply to lease the apartment on her own, however, she was not allowed to submit an application for 90 days after they were declined. If you’re still following me, remember I told you Dave and Erin would become homeless in 90 days, so sadly, this idea would not work. Running out of time and options, I got a phone call from Dave explaining the situation. I’ll never forget what happened next.

Reluctant, Dave braced himself and popped the question.

“Will you lease an apartment for us?”

I could sense him bracing for impact. You know, that impact when a 6th grade bully is gearing back to drill you one right in the nose? Yeah, that kind of impact.

As I thought about it, and decided what kind of a decision this was, it hit me like a ton of bricks. This is why I’m poor. This is what I was being shown all along. Without question, I agreed, and within a week Dave and Erin had their apartment. Their focus on a home could be quieted, and they finally had the opportunity to subdue their attention on what really matters; their relationship.

It’s hard to rejoice in our struggles, especially when they are so threatening they seem to grasp our every decision. When money becomes an issue, we tend to point fingers in every which way, forgetting that God has a plan for all that He does. It took a faithful friend to remind me of that, and an extremely odd circumstance to pattern the confidence in my faith. The apostle Peter wrote to us, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7.

God tends to intrigue our faith in ways we rarely fathom. He tests us so that we may prove faithful and endure, yet He never overwhelms us with more than we can handle. Don’t lose hope in times of struggle, because you never know whose lives you might fulfill.

Dave and Erin have an apartment, and I’m the reason why. Sometimes we can’t always afford the little things in life, but every once in a while we’re called for something more, and as far as I’m concerned, I can always afford that gift.

Happy Holidays you guys. May God fulfill your hearts like He has mine.