THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF MURPHY’S LAW

Romans 8:28

    And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

                Most of us are familiar with Murphy’s Law. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, at the worst possible time. It seems like we have been bumping up against this axiom quite a bit lately. My Associate Pastor planned a Super Bowl party for the young adults, to be held at church on Sunday night. Friday afternoon he discovered that our TV connection was not working. Saturday afternoon I was helping to move the communion table into place for our Sunday service and my hip gave out. This past week we installed a new TV in our foyer to scroll announcements as people arrive. It was working fine at the end of the week, but decided not to work Sunday morning. Our Empty Nest Fellowship group planned a Super Bowl party for Sunday night at one of our family's home's, who happen live out in the country. The National Weather Service informed us on Saturday that we could expect a blizzard on Sunday night. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, at the worst possible moment.

                Satan wants to leverage these kind of events to distract us, discourage us and immobilize us. But God has promised that, even in the face of Murphy’s’ Law, He will come through for us. One of our members was able to get the TV working for our Young Adult Super Bowl party. Although I was still feeling the pain Sunday morning, God gave me relief while I was preaching. I hardly noticed my hip. The TV in the foyer connected to our announcements minutes before people began arriving. God shepherded us all home form our Super Bowl party, even though at times we could not see the road.

                In the larger economy, the things we faced this past weekend were minor glitches. There are much bigger obstacles that we face globally and locally. But the promise of God holds true. In all things He works for the good of those who love him. We know that God is not the author of evil, but He can, and does, use negative circumstances to accomplish His purposes. One of the greatest lessons that we all have to learn over and over again is that we can trust Him. God uses trials and testing to shape us and to help us to grow and mature in our faith. Like a loving Father, God uses the circumstances of our lives to discipline us and train us in the way that we should go.

                We can expect to face new challenges every day. Satan is always looking for ways to mess things up. But if we keep our focus on Christ, we can weather whatever storms Satan sends our way. Even another blizzard.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.