Playing
The Hand You Are Dealt
"We can be full of joy here and
now, even in our trials and troubles.
These very things (the trials and troubles) will give us patient
endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character." Romans 5:3-4
Ask
the average person what they think of trials and they would most likely reveal
a sour looking expression. After all, most of us tend to resent them
and want to rid ourselves of them quickly whether they come Tall, Grande or Vente in size.
However,
God has a different viewpoint and I somehow picture Him cracking a little smile
if the subject were ever to arise. Not because He wants to see people
struggling but for a higher reason. They are one of the greatest instruments in
His Heavenly
Tool Box to refine us into His image.
Truthfully, you cannot choose what is
going to happen to you in the next minute, next hour, next day, or next week,
for that matter. We don't always
have that choice. But you can choose how
you're going to respond, and how you are going to react including whether it
will make you or break you, whether
it will make you bitter or better,
and whether it's going to be a stepping
stone to maturity or a stumbling block to failure. In other words, when life gives you
lemons…make lemonade and set up a stand. You have to play the hand you are
dealt.
The gifted concert violist, Nicolo
Paganini, was playing before a packed house one night, surrounded by a full
orchestra. He was playing a number of difficult pieces
and then he came to one which was his favorite -- a violin concerto. He started to play the concerto with the
orchestra accompanying him. A few
moments into the musical piece, one of the strings on his instrument snapped
and hung gloriously down from his instrument. Relying on his genius, he continued to play
the piece with the remaining three strings. A few moments later into the piece,
a second string snapped. But again relying on his genius, he continued to play
the piece on the remaining two strings. Then the third string snapped. Three stings dangling from his instrument
and he continued to play on one string.
At the end of this magnificent concerto, the audience stood and
applauded until their hands were numb, so incredible was the playing of this
genius. Never thinking to ask for an
encore, the Italian audience sat down.
Paganini stepped to the front of the stage and held his instrument high
and announced, "Paganini and one string." And he continued to play a full encore with the
orchestra accompanying him with his incredible
playing.
He made more music that day out of one
string, than most people ever could out of four along with an attitude of
persistence. You, ultimately, choose to respond to the circumstances that come
into your life.
Let God develop you in trials.
What really matters in life the most is not what happens to you. As someone said, “What happens in you is more important than what happens to you.”
It is a choice. We've seen people
put in the same bad circumstances. One
will come out a winner and the other will come out a whiner. One's complaining and the other is turning it
into a gold mine.
In Romans 5:3,4, Paul writes, “We
can be full of joy here and now, even in our trials
and troubles. These very things will give
us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character."
Bottom line, character is what He is working in us. Trials not only reveal character…but it
shapes it. Even if you are down to your
last string, you can give God a smile.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1)
Recall
a trial in your life that seemed overwhelming at the time (or one that you are
facing now).
2)
What
results came (or can come) if you turn it over to Christ?
Consider reading the word today:
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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