I have just spend the last week in one of my favorite places - Nicaragua - visiting a lot of friends in the villages of Trojillo and Bethel. What an incredible time! As I sit here in the bed of a 2 1/2 ton truck with a bunch of folks who wanted to make the 3+ hour journey to Managua just to say goodbye, I am reflecting about all the wonderful blessings I have experienced this week. God has enabled Daren Pinkerton and I to get a lot of work done here this week. We conducted the first seminary classes for Montana Vista Bible Institute. Eight pastors began their education in the first class entitled, “The Pastor as a Counselor”. One of these pastors was Porfiero Gonzales, who has just planted a church - Vista de la Montana Iglesia (Mountain View Church). We had a wonderful time together during the dedication of this new church building in Trojillo. What a great experience! At least 150 men, women, youth and children gathered for a great time of praise, worship, dancing, and preaching. The service lasted 3 hours! And no one wanted to leave when it was over. They didn’t even sneak out the door when the pastor prayed the benediction at the end. The people were so excited to be together and to have their own church building in which to assemble. Before they had this building, these folks had met in each other's homes. Later they put up a “make shift” shelter which was made out of poles lashed together with grass rope and covered with palm branches. Just about ever week this shelter had to be rebuilt. Every time a strong wind blew, it would collapse. But now, they have a concrete and steel church building – the only one in the village – and they are thrilled! The construction isn’t totally completed yet, but very little has to be accomplished. In fact, all that remains to be finished is:
a. A concrete floor (currently the floor is dirt).
b. Seats or benches for seating.
c. A pulpit.
d. 2 Bathroom facilities (outhouses).
We see things quite differently than the Nicaraguans. It’s amazing how spoiled we’ve become - how spoiled I've become. As I sit here, I wonder if it would take us experiencing difficulty like these people in order to really appreciate the privilege we have been given to worship and come together corporately. It’s amazing how a few trials and tribulations can change our attitudes. These people are doing okay today, but just a few years ago, they lost literally everything in Hurricane Mitch. Thru hardship and sacrifice, many of them have come to realize that the only thing in life that is sure is our faith in God and the love we have for one another. Daily they still face trials and struggles that are almost incomprehensible. A man works from daylight to dark, six days a week, for $4.00 a day, only to realize after a few years that he has contracted a terrible kidney disease and will probably die before the age of 30 years. They have no retirement, no remuneration, no insurance, no disability plan. When the disease is discovered, they are simply sent home to die. They're basically fired with no compensation. Last year when we were in Nicaragua, we met a man who had been diagnosed with the deadly kidney disease. His illness came from the chemicals he used to spray in the cane fields. One day he got rather intoxicated and threatened to kill his wife and then take his own life. He didn’t see any way out of his demise. He took a machete and tried to chop down the door of his own house to get to his family. Fortunately he didn’t hurt anyone that evening. A lot of folks there as well as many of us in North Carolina started praying his heart would be changed by thoe power of God. Well, God is still in the prayer answering business... This past week, when we celebrated the church dedication in Trojillo, who should walk out on the stage to lead worship but this man! He finally realized that what was missing was a connection with Jesus. And even though he may not be able to do anything about his sickness, he can choose how he reacts to his struggles. He found hope in Christ even though things looked hopelessness. He chose to worship God regardless of his situation.
Man! I think about the petty little things I face in life. None of my struggles are anywhere close to what this man is going thru! And yet many times I confess that I whine and respond in doubt and self-pity to the trials I face. Do you ever do that as well? We all do sometimes. But we don’t have to respond that way. We may not be able to choose the situations we face but we can choose how we respond. Look at David - He went thru a lot of tough times in life. Yet, time and time again we see him responding with praise and offerings of worship to God. He didn’t ignore his problems. He faced them and acknowledged his own feelings. But he still chose to worship God in the midst of everything. He wrote in Psalm 43:5, “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
Maybe you're facing a difficult time today. It could be that your struggles are just as dire as this man in Nicaragua. But no matter what you’re going thru, just remember: you may not be able to do anything about your troubles, but you can choose how you react to them. Don’t allow your trials to control your life and steal your joy. Choose instead to face your struggles, acknowledge your weaknesses, and turn your focus and worship towards the Lord. You might not know what your tomorrow holds, but you can trust in the One who holds your tomorrows. The trials of this world may seem to never end; but the Bible says they will only last for a little while. It also says that the faithfulness of the Lord will endure forever.
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