.Wednesday, October 10, 2007 ; 7:23 PM -
.His Mercy is New everY mornInG.
Spider Webs
By Jennifer E. Jones
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com -- Recently I caught up with a friend whom I hadn't seen in weeks. She's the kind of person who always has something interesting going on, and over lunch she shared all the amazing events that happened to her over the summer.
I certainly didn’t envy her, because a lot of those things were difficult to go through. However, she had a grand tale to tell nonetheless.
At one point, she said, “If they made a movie out of my life, I think it would be action/adventure. What about you?”
I thought for a moment, then said, “My life is more like one of those 18th century English novels that they make you read in high school. Sure, it will be revered as a classic one day, but for the most part, it's long, boring and there are huge chunks where nothing is going on.”
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. I’ve grown a bit more sensitive to the Lord lately, and I felt like it was taking a cheap shot at His handiwork. During a quiet moment on the car ride back, I prayed, I’m sorry, Lord. I know You’re working in my life, and You’ve got a plan. It’s just that sometimes You’re a little… well, slow.
You understand what I meant, right? There are seasons in your life where you’re in a holding pattern. Every day looks dreadfully like the last one. You wake up one morning and find you’re still in the same house, with the same job, doing the same old things. Your friends moved on, got married, had babies, etc., and you’re still eating Chinese take-out and watching Lifetime TV on Friday nights. You’ve got faith that God has a brighter future for you, but for right now, you’re stuck in a rut.
I certainly felt that way. However, the next day I noticed something interesting that changed my perspective.
Lately, the spiders in my neighborhood have gotten out of control. First of all, they’re the size of silver dollars, and they’re everywhere! Just in time for Halloween, I suppose. You don’t see them much during the day, but they’re often hanging out at night and in the wee hours of the morning. Frankly, they creep me out.
One morning I was walking my dog and noticed the increase of spider webs along my block. It seemed like out of nowhere these things just popped up. And that wouldn’t be strange normally, but I’m not talking about a little string dangling from a corner. I’m talking about huge, elaborate webs that stretch between trees. They’re massive as though they’re out of a movie. I thought, Who has time to build something like this? I mean, I know they don’t have jobs, but come on! I never see these spiders move, and over night, they’ve taken over.
I felt the Lord say, Yes, it’s interesting what can be accomplished in the midnight hours.
Of course! While we are all sleeping, these guys are slowly weaving their homes. Strand by strand, these little web-slingers work diligently even though we never see it. It’s no wonder they are part of God’s creation.
I praise you, LORD,
for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
your teachings fill my mind.
- Psalm 16:7 (CEV)
You see where I’m going with this, because you may also be in your midnight hour. You’ve been at work when no one else noticed, building up your faith in the dark. It doesn’t look like you’ve got anything – certainly not anything sturdy enough to hang on to. However, God wants you to keep working. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep speaking those things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).
Dawn is coming, and when the sun hits the dew on your web just right, you’ll see a beautiful masterpiece in the morning light. People will stop and stare in amazement. They will marvel at what faith created and be encouraged by all that can be done in the darkness.
I feel like sending an email to the author that I truly identify with her situation! Well, put it this way, by nature I am impatient. I want to see results right away. No matter how often I tell myself to take it step by step, I always want to leap from step 1 to step 10.
Well, my work progress has been rather...slow. The deal that suppose to come in on monday didn't come. Conformation given by the boss through secretary but without signature. It is not a deal if there is no signature. The guy is currently out of office and the irony is he is in Singapore!! But I can't reach him. Well, no choice but have to wait. From monday onwards until today, I've witnessed my friends getting deals after deals. GC got 2 yesterday and today. Alice has gotten 8 deals!! She is the same batch as me. Pol got 1 deal today. And I am still waiting for my first deal. Am I feeling envious? I will be a liar if I say no. I was asking Daddy God when is my first deal coming. Only rejections after rejections came. Oh well. Clashed schedule is the main reason. Some said they are not interested. See, I am trying to leap to step 11 while my step 1 is still shaky. MK asked me whether I feel pressured or not. I told him of course there will be pressure. Thank God he offered some encouragement, which I am very grateful of. He still asked me to change team. Must stick to my initial decision. Well, that's another story.
Just like the author said, same pattern of work, same things to do - phone calls, pitchings, phone research, emails, lunch and the same thing all over again. Don't get me wrong. The job is interesting! I spoke to many different type of people. The higher their position is, the more meetings they are attending. Catching them for 5 minutes only is such a pain. I spoke briefly with a dep MD of Msian listed company. Big guy with very firm voice. He rejected me anyway. Then, I spoke to many pleasant directors from Indonesia. A few more GMs and VPs and even more managers aka tea boys/girls. Well, of course there are some mean ones who end the conversation in a very rude manner.
Thank God he helped me meet my target everyday. If I choose to see the negative sides only, I would be super depressed and frustrated by now. God said in the bible, " things that are seen are temporal but things that are unseen are eternal." These rejections are temporal. They will be my stepping stones to success. They will be my "bread" in the good fight of faith. Sometimes it is hard to even muster up whatever faith that is left within me to trust God for breakthrough. Sometimes I am too tired to even try to convince myself that God is working in my life. Well, God seems to be ... slow. God reminded me again and again all He has spoken through the prophets and apostles in the bible. He has a future for me, a plan to prosper me and not to put me to shame. All things will work together for good for those who love Him and according to His purpose. He is alive and live in me. The One in me is greater than the one ruling this world. If He is for me who can be against me! Daddy God never leave me nor forsake me. Reasoning cause even more confusions. Hard as it is, I will be patient and persevere in this situation.
Remember the walls of Jericho? Nation of Israel under leadership of Joshua was walking around the wall EVERYDAY. Imagine doing it for 7 days!!
"
March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the
seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
By the way, the wall and the city are not small. It suppose to encircle the entire city!
Cut the story short, I relate to this experience of walking in circle, doing the same thing and seeing no result. But I believe the breakthrough will come. The wall of jericho will come tumbling down and the Lord will bring my salvation!!
I remembered a preacher once jokingly said, "don't pray for patience lightly coz usually after praying for patience, you will be tested coz patience only can be used in times of trying." Oh well, do I regret praying for patience? Nope. I will wait and continue to do the things I suppose to do even that means I only got 4 hours of sleep everyday.
I am also enduring VERY PATIENTLY as my neighbours kids decided to treat their house as battle ground. Yes, with their mom shouting at them almost every night. Daddy God, I need patience so i won't shout at them too.
