Is Your Back Against the Wall?

I like to watch movies and one that I enjoy is Catch Me if You Can. One of my favorite parts of this film is when Christopher Walken’s character, Frank Abagnale Sr., tells the story about two mice and the quarts of cream that they each fell into.

This little anecdote illustrates an important point of determination.

When trials, tests and problems arise in our daily lives, the immediate human tendency is to think things have somehow has gone wrong, that things aren’t the way ought to be.

Perhaps doubt begins to enter our minds. We begin to question God’s promises, His word or His love and His concern for us. And when our trails really get close to home and really “hot” we can begin to question: “Is God really concerned about me? Does He care about my problems? Or is He far off and uninvolved with my trails?”

Have you ever felt this way? I know I have. But, every time this happens we need to remind ourselves of our real objective in God’s big plan.

God’s objective with His people has never been primarily the rewards, security, wealth, longevity or happiness in this physical life. God wants much more for us than these temporary blessings. He is far more concerned with what is being produced in our lives for the world tomorrow.

A central part of the meaning of word endurance in the Bible is patience. Patience is a dual meaning for many of the words translated “endurance.” Endurance means not being rattled by trails and problems. It means facing them with a large does of calm. You don’t overly worry because you know everything is going to come out all right. You’ve read the end of the book (the Bible) and you know how it comes out in the end: We win!

“Behold, we count them happy which endure” says James 5:11. Enjoy your Christian life, you have the abundant life Christ promised (John 10:10).

Eternal life and the kingdom of God are worth sacrificing for now, worth all the effort, strain, struggles, suppressing the self, denying the old flesh. The reward will be worth it.

All in God’s kingdom will have been through hard trails, situations that involved sadness, sacrifice, discouragements and insecurity. They will be people who can relate to and understand and help others.

When trails, tests and troubles seem to take us right to the wall, we need to realize that being there is a step in the process that is used to prepare us for the kingdom of God.

Remember Paul words in I Peter 2:19-21.

If you have times when you doubt your ability to endure or overcome trails, ask God to give you more faith. Here is a short poem on faith that says it all:

Faith sees the way:
Doubt sees the long black night,
Faith sees the day:
Doubt sees dreads to take a step,
Faith soars on high:
Doubt thunders, “Who believes?”
Faith answers, “I.”

God tests and correct everyone whom He dearly loves (Hebrews 12:6). Trails are necessary so that we may serve in God’s kingdom and rule with godly justice, wisdom, compassion and patience.

Let’s remind ourselves to rededicate our lives as living sacrifices for God’s work, and daily prepare to receive the future reward God wants to give us.

The next time you butter your toast, remember how that little mouse endured his trail and received life for his determination.