Yesterday, we began a 30-day devotional of Adventures in Faith. A new post will be available each morning to launch your day with reflection questions, God’s Word, and a personal challenge. Invite your friends, and get started!
We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts. He gave us His love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
Ponder It.
When was your last peaceful moment?
When was your last chaotic moment?
What benefits do you get from each?
Receive It.
Each whitewater rafting experience is different, but there is always an ebb and flow. As you float down the river in the raft, you will have stretches of peace. The water might even look like smooth glass, and the current gently carries you along. You might have to paddle a bit because of the lack of current strength.
But it isn’t long before you hear a rumble, a noise ahead. You see a few rocks sticking up from the water here and there. The water moves a bit more quickly and you begin to see the bubbles of white water. As the rapids draw you closer, you have little time to assess the situation and choice the best route. After all, you can’t see the entire rapids. You don’t know how long they’ll last, what lies beneath the surface, or the sudden drops. Becoming paralyzed with fear won’t help. You’re too far in to avoid the churning water. As the water bubbles around you, your stomach flips around with it. Your heart races. You paddle hard. You struggle through. And you come out on the other side. You’re a little wetter than before, and you’re a lot more exhausted. As soon as you can, you pull up your paddle and take a few deep breaths. You survived.
You enter another peaceful stretch, and you’d like to collapse and ignore everything around you, but what you do in the peaceful time is as important as the chaotic times. It’s in the peaceful times that you need to rest and refuel. Being passive and doing nothing isn’t going to help when you hit the next rapids. You need to get a drink and a bite to eat while the water is smooth. You need to tend to any equipment issues and bumps and bruises. You need to learn from what you’ve come through and prepare for the future.
Our spiritual lives are like whitewater rafting. We experience both peace and chaos, and there is purpose in both. Don’t miss out on the preparation God is pouring into you.
Live It.
Turn the volume way up with some music or TV and stay in the noise for a full minute, then turn it off and sit in silence for a full minute. Repeat for added impact. Consider how you respond to each, and ask God to teach you how to not only cope with but thrive in each.