God is in the Midst of Struggle

I felt sort of crummy most of the day yesterday, after my Saturday bout with a bad allergic reaction to Snickers and Milky Way bites. My allergy-expert friend had warned me I ought to take an antihistamine, but I didn't because the ones I had in the house were expired 5 years ago. I figured they might just finish the job that the Snickers started in trying to rub me out.

So, I will stock up on a fresh supply of antihistamines this week, and call the doctor to get an Epipen. ( A shot of epinephrine which I would self-administer if the reaction was heading into catastrophe-- as in problems breathing, which is not conducive to life. ) I settled down to read about Oral Allergy Syndrome and symptoms of a moderate/severe response. My reaction Saturday was in the moderate/severe category. Furthermore, I learned that the trigger food tends to cause increasingly severe reactions in subsequent exposures. This was certainly the most scary allergic reaction I have ever had, so if it becomes increasingly severe... Eeeek.

The nuts I am allergic to cross-pollinate with several fruits. I looked over that list. Lo and behold, those are all the fruits I am allergic to as well. I hate that I am stuck with these allergies, but they are a part of me, like it or not. I must never partake of the "trigger" foods, and I had best carry the Epipen with me when I travel.

Anyway, my allergy guru, Melissa, asked how I was yesterday and I told her I still felt crummy and was this normal 20 hours later?  She said it was, but told me she had allergy pills and was coming over with them. So we sat on the porch and chatted as the gorgeous afternoon spilled around us. The allergy pill made me feel a good bit better, and I am glad Melissa forced my hand in taking it. I am here to tell you, good friends are priceless.

I have been thinking a great deal of late about where God is in the midst of struggle. It is a bit of a shock to find so much trouble when one is so committed to God and trying so hard to do one's best living for Him. It doesn't seem fair. My reading in Charles Spurgeon's writings today points out that "one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that 'if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.' " (2 Timothy 2:12, "It is a faithful saying--If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him".) Struggle should come as no surprise. Jesus Himself tells us, "In this world you will have troubles..."

But God is here in the midst of them! He is here in the friends who worry and bring me allergy pills and sit for 2 hours rocking on my porch laughing and calming my fears. Struggle doesn't mean God isn't here. It just means He is probably sending us a piece of Himself in a very unusual form to encourage and uplift us. We should be on the lookout. Struggles are one vehicle by which we encounter God in new and unexpected ways.

"In this world you will have troubles," Jesus tells us, "But take heart, for I have overcome the world."
The takeaway for me: Be that unexpected vehicle of God for someone who is struggling. Let them see Jesus through me.

As always on Monday mornings, I am headed off to the city's most active abortion mill this morning. I go to proclaim life and hope in Jesus from the sidewalks to the women headed towards destruction. I always pray that I will speak truth and life, and I think usually I do that. The aspect in which I most need prayer is doing so in a spirit of humility and love. It is always a little easier to do that when I have been struggling myself. No, I don't like struggles at all, but in the aftermath, my heart aches more for fellow strugglers, and perhaps helps me in speaking charitably. That is a blessing of God in the midst of pain.
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2 Corinthians 12:10 

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 12:12 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 8:18-21 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.