Anyway, one of the team members is
named Eliot. He’s classified as a
“retrieval specialist” which basically means he goes in and beats people up to
get an item. He’s sort of a
classic bodyguard-type. He’s
almost superman when it comes to fighting. There will be a whole group of guys with guns pointed at him
and he will somehow disarm them and knock them all out cold in a matter of
seconds. One of my favorite moments
on the show is when two of his fellow teammates, a guy and a girl, are in
trouble. They are standing with
their backs to a deep river with the bad guys pointing guns at them. All of a sudden, the guy and girl start
to smile and even chuckle. The bad
guys narrow their eyes and say, “what’s so funny?!” Just then, the camera
reveals that Eliot has walked up behind the bad guys. In other words, the teammates realize
that they are going to be just fine because they have an amazing fighter on
their side. No one ever beats
Eliot in a fight.
Lately I've been struggling with
feeling defeated and deflated. It's just been one of those seasons with one
thing after another in my own life as well as feeling such a burden for some
friends who are sinking around me.
Sometimes when things are rough, I
feel like a flower in a rainstorm.
Flowers are frail and the rain may beat them down, but in the back of my
mind I know that roots are deep and water means life and beauty will come with
new growth after the storm passes. I know that trials build character.
However, lately, I've felt more like
a cardboard box in the rain. Once a box is soaked through, it's completely
useless. There is no redeeming element to the storm raging over the box. It's
just lying there, rootless in the rain. Defeated and deflated.
I'd like to get back to feeling like
the flower, please. Even though no one enjoys the struggles of a proverbial
storm, knowing that rain water is bringing future beautification is part of
what gives us strength to hold our little heads up.
Feeling like a cardboard box in the
rain is just plain sucky.
Really what is going on with me is
partially exhaustion and dread over future problems, which haven't even
happened yet. Fatigue, worry, and self-absorption have bonded together to
smother me. And so, Sunday afternoon found me crying uncontrollably for no
reason and every reason.
My husband is working a ton
lately--making me feel a little like a single mom. My kids perceive that tension and act like she-Devils—throwing
socks and insults in my face.
Pinworms and headaches and cat-vomit
and school projects and coordinating care for my kids while I'm gone for 36
hours on an upcoming trip were just a few of the issues that swirled around
me--soaking me through.
Then, I saw friends drowning around
me--a mom trying to save her daughter's mind from the lies of an eating disorder;
another friend’s mom has been battling cancer and just discovered that her
husband is having an affair. (Yes,
really.) Other friend’s issues
include: depression, divorce, and caring for cancer patients in a busy oncology
unit whilst also planning a wedding.
As I attempted to pray for these
struggling souls, the water rose around my box and I felt myself continuing to
fall apart. Actually, I felt
attacked and I felt like my friends were being attacked too.
Tuesday morning in the car, I was
feeling like my friends and I were all standing there with our backs to a
raging river with Evil pointing a gun in our face. Then a song came on the radio, a verse came to mind,
and I saw Jesus step into the scene.
And guess what? He is
better than super-human and no one ever beats Jesus in a fight.
One of your men puts to
flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He
promised you. (
Are you feeling like a cardboard box
drowning in a meaningless onslaught?
Listen to the song by Unspoken if you
want to be encouraged.
Until you stop breathing
Until you stop bleeding
Until your heart stops
kick-drum beating
When it's hard times
When it's long days
And the enemy is right up in
your face
When your back's against the
ropes and you're feeling all alone
Keep fighting the good fight
(Never give up, never give up)
Keep letting your light shine
(Holding it high as long as you live)
'Cause I'm never gonna leave
you
Always gonna see you through
to the other side
Keep fighting the good fight,
fighting the good, fighting the good fight, good fight
Even in the road blocks
(yeah)
Even through the rough spots
When you're feeling you've
given all that you've got
I'm with you in the next step
Giving you in the next breath
I'll be the voice saying
"You're gonna make it"
When you're out there on your
own
You are never alone…
You are never alone! You may feel like a cardboard box, but God sees a flower and
Jesus is fighting for you. Melt
into His arms little box. You may
feel overwhelmed, but Jesus is never overwhelmed. Never.
Look up at the mountains—they are huge and strong—but
does our help come from them? No—our help comes from the One who made those mountains!
I’m praying that even if you are weary and worn,
or feeling deflated—you will raise your eyes in HOPE because Jesus is never
defeated.
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