Her Second Half Faith

We have a mini heatwave in the Pacific Northwest. There are some I know who love it, who thrive in the extreme heat and can’t understand us Fall lovers. Cheers to you.

I am a 75-degree-with-slight-breeze gal, who is looking forward to the cooler temps and rain that is predicted in 48 hours. As I type this, it is way too hot in my house with limited air-conditioning, and sleep is nowhere on my radar. If you think I’m about to complain, I’m not. Because I just looked at my planner that has a built-in section for “gratitude” with 3 lines. I’ll determine later what should be on those lines, but I know that leaning into complaining will only block that flow.

Instead, I’ll share what road I did start down earlier. The heat….and was on the brink of complaining (full disclosure). But I remembered the benchmark for many a believer when it comes to complaining: the recently delivered Israelites. Not this decade recently. The ones who were shown incredible miracles by God – ones that would later become the subtitle for how God was known. The ones who finally got to realize the hope of their ancestors to be freed from Egyptian slavery. The ones whose hard labor served a ruler who was not their own. They complained about their safety, their provisions and their direction. I imagine the desert was quite warm and not exactly resort-type conditions. Instead of our hindsight perspective, maybe take a moment to validate their concerns and discomfort. But also keep in mind that they did a lot of complaining. A lot. (Exodus chapters 1-17 – not kidding)

But have you heard about the 3 dudes in the furnace? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Three young men who were part of the exiles in Babylon. Captive in a land that was not their own, their people had to endure the oppression of another culture, religion and lifestyle. When the decree was given that all should worship golden idols at the sound of certain music, they refused. They knew the punishment was to be thrown into a fiery furnace, and they refused. They declared their God would deliver them. And He did. (Daniel 3; or VeggieTales’ Rack, Shack and Benny).

One group got what they wanted and prayed for…and complained about it. One group knowingly chose a burning consequence…and they did it with joy.

When the heat is turned up, I think I’ll think a little more carefully about my response.