The First Question to Ask in a Crisis
What am I going to do? is often our first question when we're plunged into the middle of a crisis. Thinking of how many ways this sudden catastrophe is going to screw up our plans--or if horrendous enough--our lives, can be overwhelming.Take, for instance, the crisis my mother faced when I was about eight years old. She hung up the phone after speaking to my dad. He had just called to report the news that he wouldn't be coming home again--he was leaving her for another woman. In the span of a few crushing minutes, the final rejection from her husband of twenty-two years, along with the sole responsibility of how to feed and clothe the four (of six) remaining kids at home was dumped on Mom. Thirty-eight-years-old, she hadn't worked since she was sixteen, and had no high school diploma.Mom slumped into the green tweed recliner she had given Dad as a Father's day present the year before and asked no one in particular, "What are we going to do?"As awful as that day was, and as far-reaching the effects of my father's selfish decision had on each one of us, there was another question that I'm sure came into her mind next, and carried her through years of single parenting:
"What is God going to do?"
In my mother's case, God provided a job for her, He helped her earn a high school diploma, and in one year she was out of debt. Years later, after her kids were launched into adulthood, she earned an RN degree when she was fifty-four. Her faith in God carried her--and us--through.At the root of our fear and worry is the belief that we're the source of the solutions to our problems. But when we ask, "What is God going to do?" our attention is immediately pulled up to Him, and His resources to deal with our burdens. Think of it--if nothing takes God by surprise, and we are His children, doesn't it stand to reason that He's got solutions to our problems?
Won't He comfort us, lead us and provide for us?
Rather than ask myself What am I going to do? when faced with any crisis, I need to ask, What is God going to do? and then follow Him as He leads the way.What stress or crisis are you facing? Does asking the question "What is God going to do?" help you?"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." Psalm 138:8