Words to Grow On

February 27, 2006

“Down—but Never Out!”

By

Constance DeMichael

(2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

I will soon be celebrating another birthday and to my amazement, I realized that I will be nearer to 60 then I am to 50.   Oh my, where did the time go?   Another revelation for this “woman of the cloth” is that my years in active officership (ministry) have gone below the double digits!  

As I contemplate this season of my life and do a fast rewind of memories there is a tune that continues to penetrate my mind, “A Man may be down, but He’s never Out!” 

Lt. Colonel Olof Lundgren(retired Salvation Army Officer) could sing it better than anyone I know and I miss hearing this stirring piece of music that would excite me over and over again about the mission of the Army.   This song has suddenly surfaced from being tucked away in my memories and the melody is being played continuously in my mind.   The tune and the words take on a new meaning for me today.    I am not thinking about the mission of The Salvation Army to help the downtrodden, who suffer from homelessness, substance abuse, hunger or any other social impediment. 

Today my thoughts are reflecting on all my years in ministry, all the places I have lived and served, and my Christian walk since the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  There have been problems.   Who among us has not had problems?   Troubles today would probably be called pressure, affliction, disappointments, or stress.   We have all had troubles and some have had more severe troubles experienced than others.   Any time I have confided in another about the troubles on my mind I find I need to stop my whining because their problems are more severe than mine!

After all these years, I have discovered that my disappointments come because of my high expectations.   I aim high!    I have high expectations for myself and for others.   I have come to realize that I am setting myself up for disappointment all the time.   My expectation of how a person should respond or a situation should work out doesn’t materialize and I am disappointed.   I am convinced that God has called me, God is using me in this place, my goals are set, and I have high expectations for achieving those goals. In an instant I can be brought down by the pressure of the unwanted news that I am moving from an assignment and needed somewhere else.  God hasn’t told me yet!

You may have expectations that are causing you disappointment, trouble and putting you down on a stretcher.   Perhaps you are not happy at work.  You did not realize it would be like this when you got the job.   Your children have let you down and the situation is far from what you expected.   You thought your marriage would be different.   You never dreamed he would cheat on you.   You never expected to be single and alone on your life’s journey. 

I can assure you that the Israelites walked out of Egypt with all their treasures and never dreamed that they would not see the promise land awaiting them.   Job with all his wealth never expected to have Satan come along snuffing out his family, fortune, and health.   Paul had no idea what troubles lay ahead for him when a bright light brought him to Jesus.        He was not expecting that transfer!

The J.P. Philips translation of 2 Corinthians 1, reads:  “For He gives us comfort in our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in theirs.  Indeed, experience shows that the more we share Christ’s suffering the more we are able to give of his encouragement.”   Comfort means “to strengthen; to enable; to give courage; to come along side of.” The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and our Counselor.  The Holy Spirit is God’s provision for our problems and pressures and our strength in the midst of suffering.   Paul saw his troubles as opportunities for the release of God’s strength.  We all have tucked away in the corners of our lives wounds and scars.  If they were not there we would not need a Physician.  We would not need the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and we would not need one another.

Through the years there have been times when I have been down but never out.   It is in those difficult times that a reality check is in order.   When I have been completely overwhelmed; the burden more than I can bear; I have learned to trust in God who is my preserver.   I give praise to God for his provision of the Comforter and for other sisters in the Lord who come along side to encourage in times of trouble. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit as a Comforter in times of trouble.  Thank you for the sisters and friends you have sent into my life to encourage and support me.  I pray today that I might be faithful in serving You and in being a comforter to other sisters in need of encouragement during their times of trouble.   Amen

Connie DeMichael is the Associate Regional Coordinator at the Wilmington, Delaware Regional Office.  She is a Salvation Army officer (minister).