A group of us went to eat at a restaurant in our town. Right from the start I could see something was wrong with one of my friends. As he sat down the words started pouring out. One contract that he had been working on for years was only partly awarded to him. This contract was supposed to get his business through the difficult times. He wouldn’t even be getting 10% of the contract.

Immediately I feel angry, because I know how hard he has been working on it. I know how much he and his business were depending on it. I’m ashamed to say, but yes, I voiced my dissatisfaction with a bunch of swear words. The worst of it was that they also wanted a discount!

What were they thinking? Can they even count? Are they up to the task? I would rather not repeat my attempt at a response, because this is a family station …

That night I lay awake thinking about this. Slowly it sunk in: Such a response may be human and many would probably react in the same way, but what does God want us to do? Should we take that piece of the contract, underline it, and throw it back in their faces, saying: “You know what you can do with this!”?

I realised this is not the right way and grabbed my phone to send my friend the following WhatsApp message:

Morning, my friend! I thought about that % the whole night. Indeed, it’s a slap in your face, and yes, it made me sear too, until I started thinking about what the Lord wants you to do. Maybe you should still act in the way that He wants you to. We don’t know what is going on around the corner. But you can shine His light. And put the % in His hands. I know He wants to hold your hand in this situation too. Maybe to teach you something. Maybe to trust in Him only and not in a %. I know it’s not easy, but may you get the strength to do His will with the % too. Thinking of you!

I know it’s not easy to hold onto your faith there where the tyre hits the tar, where you’re using all your energy just to keep your head above water. It is in times like these that you long to hear God’s voice. In the heat of the battle all that is left is the hope that God will come and sort things out.

And then this verse brings me some calm: ⁶Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

That’s all that’s left. Our faith. Our conviction. Our trust that God will in some way provide for us. We hang onto the hope that God is somewhere. When we go looking for him. When we kneel at the corner of the bed and surrender and say: “Lord, I believe and trust in You and I will not let go. I give the % or this or that matter to You …”, God will be waiting for us.

He will open His arms as He waits for us. When He puts His arms around us, we will calm down. We will receive strength and wisdom to tackle the % issue and all the other stuff that trips us up, in the right way.

Scripture
Hebrews 11:1-6

Reflection
What is hard for you?
How can you give it to God?
Where will you then find wisdom?

Prayer
Father, I’m so tired from struggling. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve tried everything. Now I leave it all to You. Amen.