The Disappointment that Brought Joy
A young wife shared that one day as she sat in her new office she remembered how badly she had wanted to move into that large, quiet space. She had almost forgotten how much she had hoped for such an office, so with a grateful heart she again gave thanks to God.
Just before she left work, her boss stepped into her office and said, "I have something I must tell you. The president of the company said there has been much complaint about you having this office. You will have to move." He suggested she plan to move to her former desk in about two weeks.
She was devastated. It seemed so unfair. She knew others in her position had similar offices. Besides, she thought the office had been a gift from God.
She called her husband, and as they talked about it, he suggested, "Why don't you move out immediately. Then write a letter to your boss and the president of the company and tell them how much you love your job." She agreed.
She left work, drove to the church for their Wednesday night prayer meeting, and while sitting in her car waiting for her husband, opened to Psalm 131.
"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother...O Israel, put your hope in the Lord-now and always."
The next morning she wrote the letters and moved out of the office. Rather than focusing on the office space, she focused on putting her hope in God. The result? As she told me about it a few days later, we sensed a special joy.
When our hope is in God alone," we can even say with Paul, "In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds" (2 Corinthians 7:4).
Dear Lord, My greatest joy comes when I totally abandon myself to you!
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Just before she left work, her boss stepped into her office and said, "I have something I must tell you. The president of the company said there has been much complaint about you having this office. You will have to move." He suggested she plan to move to her former desk in about two weeks.
She was devastated. It seemed so unfair. She knew others in her position had similar offices. Besides, she thought the office had been a gift from God.
She called her husband, and as they talked about it, he suggested, "Why don't you move out immediately. Then write a letter to your boss and the president of the company and tell them how much you love your job." She agreed.
She left work, drove to the church for their Wednesday night prayer meeting, and while sitting in her car waiting for her husband, opened to Psalm 131.
"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother...O Israel, put your hope in the Lord-now and always."
The next morning she wrote the letters and moved out of the office. Rather than focusing on the office space, she focused on putting her hope in God. The result? As she told me about it a few days later, we sensed a special joy.
When our hope is in God alone," we can even say with Paul, "In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds" (2 Corinthians 7:4).
Dear Lord, My greatest joy comes when I totally abandon myself to you!
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Adrian Rogers said...
I have not suffered a lot for Christ, but I want to tell you that those times that I have suffered and I knew it was for Jesus, have been some of the happiest times of my entire life. I cannot tell you the indescribable joy that has come into my heart and my life.
