Words from Hosea

“And Jacob fled into the county of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.” Hosea 12:12-13

Last week’s Sunday school lesson was on Hosea 12. The teacher compared the verse where Israel the guy tries to take care of his own problem (wifelessness), which doesn't work out so well (Laben cheated him with the ol’ daughter switcheroo), with Israel the nation having their problem (freedomlessness) solved by God (and Charlton Heston). Pastor B went on to say that the whole America ideal of self-reliance and pull yourself up by the boot straps is really the antithesis of faith.

But, argued a good American in the class, does that mean we should just sit on our butts and wait around for God to solve all of our problems? Of course not, Pastor B explained. Do what is in your capacity to do but leave the impossible to God.

That has stuck with me this week as I watched both of our cars break down, warranting expensive repairs, and Eli's hours being severely cut back. A host of other small crises made life feel as heavy as the sullen grey sky that has persisted stubbornly for weeks. Sometimes this magical journey of life is more of a slog.

About a month ago, I was standing in a ballroom praying for rain. I traveled to Southern California for my company's annual fall conference and all 600 or so attendees gathered together on Sunday morning for worship. The president of the district delivered a powerful sermon and at the end mentioned the terrible drought in the area and together we all prayed that some much needed relief would fall from the heavens.

I didn't think another thing about it until I opened my news feed yesterday and read an article about power outages in California due to the torrential rains they are experiencing. It gave me the shivers. I remembered that God really does hear us when we cry out to him.

Not ten minutes later my boss called me into his office and thanked me for some extra work I had taken on recently and gave me a bonus. More than enough to cover all those mechanic’s bills.

Again I stopped, amazed. And remembered that God really does hear the quiet whimpery sound I make from underneath a crushing pile of life.

I don't know what you carry that is too heavy, or the problems you face that sucked the life from your bones till you feel dryer than the California desert. But I do know who has your back. And when it comes to total clusterfart crap storms (you know what I mean), He is kind of a specialist.  

Do what you can do and leave the impossible to God.