If Day

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was "If Day"--a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like "if" Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event, "If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality." The key word there is nearly. While "If Day" was a valiant attempt to educated people about danger in the world, it cold not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.

Real trials in life are not ifs--they are whens. In fact, life's most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insight into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, "My brethren, count if all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no "ifs" about it--it is an important way to grow. Someone has written:

Though you cannot see the outcome,

Trust the Lord--He knows what's best;

Be assured He sees your trial,

And He's with you in your test.

Tough times can teach us to trust.

Therefore, seek a relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His "living water." Live "your life...hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). A person who has that kind of relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How wonderful to know that we serve a loving God who has control over everything. How different would we do things if we could see the big picture the way that He does? My guess is that a lot of us wouldn't change much because we couldn't possibly understand the big picture OR we would try to "fix" things and end up making them worse. Trials will come. Tough times will come. And hopefully we learn from them and lean on the Lord more because of them. Three times in the less than a week this verse has been brought to my attention: 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Last week my SIL referred to it when blogging about a difficult road that they are currently traversing. Then Monday night, at our women's bible study, it was the key verse for the night. Our leader had printed it out on bright green "bookmarks" for us to place in our Bibles to help us remember to place our "worries" in the Lord's hands. Then this morning, our principal said that he was going to share with us the teacher's bible verse and then he quoted 2 Timothy 1:7. Three times in less than a week!!! I know difficult times will come, and I'm beginning to believe that the Lord has placed this verse in my path to prepare me for something. What? I don't know. It would be nice to have a wonderful little handbook that tells me all about what's coming and how it's going to turn out. However, that's not the way it works. Instead, whatever comes my way I have to trust in the Lord and know that He knows the who's, what's, why's, and how's even if I don't. And I'm glad that He does because I would just make a mess of things!

Hope every has a very blessed Wednesday!