Power Outage
Perhaps your typical life view is in the “anything that can go wrong, will” camp. Or perhaps you are in the “if you expect good things to happen, good things will happen” camp. It isn’t so important which camp you are in before something happens, but what you do to prepare for something to go wrong, and what you do once the “anything” that could go wrong does go wrong.
God guarantees that He will always be with us – that He will make a way through any trial – that all things work together for our good. He doesn’t say that everything will be unicorns and rainbows.
In fact, the Word literally says that trials are not an “if” event but rather are a matter of “when”. James 1:12 [KJV] – “Blessed [is] the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
And that we should be happy about them.
James 1:2-4 [KJV] – 2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
It isn’t a lack of faith to know where the exits are in the theater, restaurant, or hotel. It isn’t a lack of faith to purchase insurance for a trip. It isn’t a lack of faith to have a generator. It isn’t faithless to ensure you can get your money back for your hotel room, to leave if you don’t feel safe in a place, or to insist that accommodation be made to ensure you are safe.
In other words, preparing for the worst is not a lack of faith.
In fact, preparing for the worst may provide a way for you to help others, others who didn’t have the means or the foresight to prepare for the worst, through a trying event. And we should not hold back from helping them just because they didn’t prepare (whatever the reason).
The parable of the 10 virgins teaches us that we cannot give others our Holy Spirit. Paul said he would give up his own salvation for his people, but he could not. However, short of salvation and the Holy Spirit, everything else can be shared.
Part of the town we were in for our annual church convention lost power. Nothing that anyone staying in our convention hotel could do to prepare for that – except maybe have a flashlight on hand, and some snacks that don’t need refrigeration. And, of course, know where the stairs are located.
Taking steps to lesson the impact of a trial that occurs is not a lack of faith either. Not even if it is “your own fault” the trial occurred – not even when others are less fortunate than you and cannot take the same steps. In fact, taking steps to get out of the trial may just ensure that helpers can be sent to the most needy and make a greater impact there.
Acts 1:8 [ESV] – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
When trouble comes we should help when we can, get out of the way of helpers if we can’t help, accept the help of others when we need it, and pray in every case.
In fact, I believe that when God’s blessings protect us from weather disasters, a wreck, or cancer, it might just be specifically to give us an opportunity to bless others with our means, our support, and our prayers.
Mr. Rogers famously said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always fine people who are helping.’”
Things will not always be okay. Troubles will come. One way or the other, be the helper. Prepare so you can share. Get out of the way to make a way for others. And pray always. Use the power you have to help. The power of the Holy Spirit never goes out. It will always be available in the trials and to the helpers.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comment section, or any time at Nancy@DyanmicChristianMinistries.org.