I’m coming to find out that there are many types of distractions thrown our way when God is doing things in our life. One such distraction for me is health. Thursday night a cluster headache sent me to bed early. I was fine when I woke up Friday morning but by 7:30 I was calling to cancel a doctor’s appointment and heading to bed, this time with a migraine. Nausea overwhelmed me and the only thing that could bring comfort was eyes closed, dark room, lying vertical.
An entire day was wasted. Interaction with my girls was limited throughout the day. Most of my interaction was asking for water refills and tomato soup. I had put a roast in the crock-pot that morning for barbecue, a quick potato salad once the headache had subsided to normal levels and dinner was done. This migraine kept me from reading God’s word and the very important last chapters of the book I am currently reading.
Another distraction this week was the stolen information from our debit/credit cards. Earlier in the week mine was compromised and then today we noticed another odd charge and it turned out to be on Matthew’s card. A half hour spent on the phone reporting the fraudulent charges and canceling the cards. More distractions.
It’s a pattern that I have learned to recognize. I don’t know if I would call it a test of what I have just learned and started to apply, however, that is how it feels. I just think that the enemy of my soul doesn’t like to see a closeness redeveloping with God and so he does all he can to distract me.
This is where keeping every thought captive to Christ comes in. I can’t say that I wasn’t angry that both of our cards, just days apart, were basically stolen. I was angry. I can’t tell you that having a migraine and a stolen day didn’t make me sad, it did. However, instead of throwing a tantrum, I held those thoughts captive, held the reactions in check and dealt with them calmly.
I think that is what we are supposed to do. Instead of fussing and fighting over these things, we are supposed to say, “Well Lord, there is nothing that I can do to change the circumstances so please work through me to stay calm and know that you have it all in your hands.” I am praying for a clear head today, without any pain, I am praying for the energy that I know I will need and the patience that will get me through.
Distractions are a part of life, it’s what we do despite them that will make us stronger and more capable of dealing with them.
