Tip of My Iceberg

When five-year-old Beck was buried in the sand by loving relatives, it was a fun adventure. This is what people do at the beach.

Fun became frustration when he realized how heavy the sand was. Still fun, but the need to get out from under was imperative.

Nobody likes to feel that they’re stuck under some responsibility, need, activity, or relationship that they can’t extricate themselves from. The sense of being trapped feels overwhelming–even if there’s a side of fun added in.

Several years ago we were on a mission trip in Manilla. We were staying for about six weeks so we were able to lease apartment space for us and our team. It was surrounded by a quaint barrio where the people were friendly, and nights introduced us to the music of the Philippines.

We loved being there; the people were kind and the culture was welcoming. The challenge came with the less-than-reliable electricity in the city. There were rolling brown-outs most days–it was summer and air conditioners everywhere were on overtime. There was no way of planning for a temporary lack of power.

I was heading up to our apartment on the fifth floor, alone in an elevator, when everything shut down. The surprise of the moment soon gave way to complete annoyance when time crawled slowly by and there was no going up or down. I have some issues with claustrophobia, so being held captive in a stuck elevator wasn’t helping my mood or attitude.

Minutes ticked slowly by. 45 minutes later, I was still in there, waiting, imagining in my mind if this was where I’d spend the rest of my days, catastrophizing this small situation into something that it wasn’t. It was hot, miserable, and feeling worse by the moment.

Fifty minutes in the power switched back on, and I got to our apartment where I just sat, breathing. This wasn’t life shattering, life altering, or even life alarming. It was an inconvenience.

I didn’t handle it as well as I could have.

There will always be times in life when we’re overwhelmed by circumstances, people, our own attitudes. When the pile we picture over us feels insurmountable. When hard times come with no rescue or deliverance in sight. When giving up feels necessary and easy.

Job, who experienced a lot of calamity, loss, and grief in his life, understood that God had him, even in the worst of circumstances.

“For the life of every living thing is in His hand, and the breath of every human being.” Job 12:10.

Every human alive has been created in the image of God, with an intellect, a will, and emotions. We live within our circumstances with purpose–we’re not random beings placed here for no reason. God knows us and wants us to know Him. He is aware of the brokenness of us and our world. He doesn’t step in to magically make hard things disappear–that takes away our ability to decide what we want and which way we’ll go.

He can and will make beauty out of misery.

“To all who mourn in Israel (in the whole world), He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.” Isaiah 61:3

We’re each here with a higher calling, a better path, one of hope and joy. God offers it to us in love.

Beck felt overwhelmed by the sand, but those who loved him got him out of the pile. Which brought him great joy.

God is offering to help us out from under the piles we find ourselves under.

Will you let Him help you?