Book 3, CHAPTER 29
How God is to be Called Upon and Blessed Even During Times of Tribulation.
This summer has been one of cloudy, wet, cool weather. Lots of rain. We are either coming out of a storm or getting ready to go into another one. In this reflection, and the next one, Thomas tells us about praising God in the tough times. He tells us to fly to the Lord in these times, and let it be God’s pleasure to release us from tribulation if that is His will for us. We are to love Him and cling tightly to Him in the storm. And praise Him regardless of how turbulent it gets. This song by Casting Crowns does a good job of reflecting that sentiment: https://youtu.be/0YUGwUgBvTU
Zebco 202
Chapter Focus: And speaking of casting and getting wet, when I was a kid, we’d go fishing. My Dad’s patience with me when fishing was amazing. It’s a wonder we ever caught any fish from a boat since I was ready, but my equipment was not. In my pride, when I thought I was ready to enter the fishing boat, my Dad would have me perform a few “test casts” from the dock to see that everything was working. It never was. I could not figure out why or how my Zebco 202 was jammed even though I KNEW I had everything lined out. Yet, when performing the action, either the line refused to spin out, or it dribbled out like a boiled spaghetti noodle.
The secret was a matter of being disciplined enough to clear the moss scum from my line at the end of the previous fishing day: the dried moss would clog the housing of the reel. Dad would open the Zebco, give me one of those looks (Ps 32:8), and direct me on the clean-up. Yes, he’d help, but he’d make me do it. He was always pleased when he’d see me take apart the whole reel, clean it, untangle it, and reassemble it. The shortcut of cutting and knotting the line never worked! Similarly, in casting, I needed to whip the pole at the same time as I released the button. Dad would demonstrate a couple of times, pulling and teasing and whipping the rod and reel to make it sing its filament, bobber, and hook far out into the lake channel. Then he’d hand it to me. ”You do it.” It took a while for me to coordinate the letting go with the whipping action to get a good arc on the cast.
Calling upon God during times of tribulation seems as natural as running to Dad with a tangled fishing line due to my faulty preparation or ill-discipline. “Fix it, Daddy! Hurry!”
It’s embarrassing to keep going back to God with our mistakes, complaints, and troubles, just as it would be going back to my Dad again with the tangled Zebco. But somehow He helps me keep my line clean and my casting whip coordinated with my ability to let go at the right time. God lets me engage with the trouble, helps me untie the knots, and clear a new way forward. This is how I learn: by experience. You probably learn that way too. In the end, I have to say “Thank You” for letting me be vulnerable. Thank you, God, for helping me to have the courage to approach You with my faults and troubles, my trials and tribulations; my many sins. This is how we become better fishers of men (Mt 4:29).
Chapter 29, In Short.
1. God wills certain trials to come upon us.
2. I ought to bear such sufferings with patience, so I can learn from it.
Scripture Memory Prayer: “Yet, what should I say: ‘Father, save Me from this hour?” (Jn 12:27)
Question: What is your signal for running toward God when you are in trials and tribulations?
Key Quote: I cannot escape it, but I need to fly unto You, so that You may help me and turn this trial into good.
The Text of Chapter 29: How God is to be Called Upon and Blessed Even During Times of Tribulation.
Disciple:
Blessed be Your Holy Name, O Lord, forever, Who has willed this trial and trouble to come upon me (Dan 3:26).
I cannot escape it, but I need to fly unto You, so that You may help me and turn this trial unto me for good.
Lord, I am now in tribulation, and my heart is troubled, but I am afflicted by my present suffering which lies upon me.
And now, dearest Father, what shall I say? I am caught among the snares. O save me from this hour? (Jn 12:27)
But for this cause I came to this hour (ibid) that You might be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered by You.
Let it be Your pleasure to deliver me; for what can I do who am poor, and without You where shall I go? Give patience to me, O Lord, at this time also. Help me, O Lord my God, and I will not fear however much I may be oppressed.
- And now amid these things what shall I say? Lord, Your will be done (Matt 6:10). I have well deserved to be troubled and afflicted. Therefore I ought to bear it, and would to God that it be with patience until the tempest passes over and comfort returns.
Yet Your almighty arm is able to take this temptation away from me, and to lessen its power such that I do fall not under it, even as you have helped me many a time before, O God, my merciful God (Ps 59:18).
And the more difficult this is to me, the easier to You is this change of the right hand of the Most High God (Ps 77:11).