Sometimes life surprises you. Actually, a lot of times life surprises you. You have it in your head that things are going to go one way and then all of a sudden, something catches you off guard and throws off the plan. It’s pretty much a guarantee. A guarantee that you will be challenged to react to the unforeseen challenges that come your way. If you’re like me, you don’t mind a good challenge…it’s just that you want to be fully prepared for it, which in many ways completely undermines the whole purpose of a challenge. Well, last week I had some unexpected health issues with my shoulders. Nothing major so don’t worry, the ‘Get Well’ cards can be saved for another day. However, it was major enough to pull me out of work for a few days and make me worry about being able to fulfill my obligations to my clients (praise the Lord it was a quick healing and everything was fine). Major enough to be really frustrating as I felt like I shouldn’t be dealing with the issue I was dealing with. I was sitting on the couch, feeling all sorry for myself and wondering at God’s timing when my roommate suggested that I just laugh about it. Laugh about it? This idea seemed strange at first, laughing at this unexpected and honestly inconvenient issue I was having, but then it became hilarious. I started to laugh and then it was like the best kind of medicine. I am certainly not suggesting that we laugh at our trials in a way that negates their seriousness, but I do think I am suggesting that we practice a certain amount of joy in the midst of struggle. Why? Because joy is the best medicine and in my opinion, this life can throw nothing at us that isn’t shadowed in the greatness of the salvation that is offered through Christ. Our present struggles are a ‘light momentary affliction that is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Proverbs 31 describes a godly woman to be one who ‘is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.’ I don’t think she is laughing in a way that is haughty or ignorant of the difficult surprises that will come her way. Instead, I think she is laughing because she is unafraid. She does not fear struggle or surprise because she knows her feet are firmly planted in the assurance of her hope in Christ. Her hope is unwavering, freeing her to laugh at what might come her way for she will not be shaken. This is my prayer. That no matter what waves come my way, big or small, that I can smile at them knowing I will not be moved should my feet be firmly planted. Life surprises all of us…and I hope to laugh at it.
(Pictures serve as great illustrations. Ran across this one and though it fit well. Totally did not see this wave coming…and I’m happy to say…I laughed about it)
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