But God
Posted on 11. Jul, 2008 by chris in Noelle Ritter
“Can you stop your ipod for two seconds?”
“What?”
Sigh… “Can you please stop your ipod so I can talk to you.”
“Am I done with the bike yet?”
“No… we still have some work to do on your ankle.”
No comment. Carlos look even more frustrated than last week.
We were on day 10 of a second degree ankle sprain. I knew it was going to be at least two weeks before Carlos was back to Spring Football practice. But, he was motivated to work hard, so I was confident in his recovery.
“I messed up Noelle.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you said no running until after we began more rehab, but I just thought…”
“-You just thought what?”
“Well I sprained it again this weekend… there. You happy now?!!!”
“Well no… I’m disappointed.”
Silence from Carlos, now just staring at his blue/green mistake.
I cleared the other athletes out of the room.
“Hey… I’m not going anywhere. I want to help you. It is going to take work. But, until you figure out who knows best here- you’re just gonna keep hurting yourself.”
I think I know what I’m doing. Or I get the idea and then run with it in my own direction. How often do I come to Him with my pain? My mistake. My poor choice. My stupidity. Or even, my ignorance. And He says that He knows what to do. He says it will take time, but I came to the right Being for the right answer. Then comes confession; prayer; time in His Word; encouragement from others; and suddenly I think I know what I’m doing again.
I am so quick to let Him save me from my misery in this flesh. I want out of my pain and dirt so bad. I am initially thankful for His rescue. But… I leave without changing. Changing my behavior, transforming my mind, restoring my perspective- none of it. I sell God short of what He wants to do with my injury. I hobble away confidently. And think I can run again, only to re-sprain my ankle, making it worse.
But God. But GOD. BUT GOD! He intervenes again! He’s still there, ready to get back to work on us, to work with us. Because He knows our potential for His glorious work.
Ephesians 2:1-7 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”