Not The "E" Key!

Don't be intimidated by your enemies.
This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed,
but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
(Philippians 1:28, NLT)

Good Morning,

Last night our family told stories around the dinner table. One of our favorite stories involves a young friend that cleaned his father’s computer keyboard, taking off the keys for a thorough cleaning. As he put the keyboard back together the “E” key broke. Our friend told the story of the mishap to his father.

The father asked, “Which key broke?”

Our friend answered, “The E key.”

The father’s voice rose higher and higher as he repeatedly said, “Not the E key! Not the E key!”

In the midst of discussing life challenges, the friends will cry out, “Not the E key!”

I love story-telling. I can relate to stories of real people. Actually—every day is a part of the big story of God. Dreams, disappointments, and difficulties belong to the story; however, we often are unable to understand how disappointments and difficulties can possibly be a part of the story of God. Of course, when you read the Bible—the disappointments of people are evident. The stories unfold the intervention of God as disappointments and difficulties fit into the plan of God.

The Apostle Paul gave his insights to the bigger story in Philippians 1:

Don't be intimidated by your enemies: Too often disappointments and difficulties become the enemy of living. No one wants an “E” key challenge. Let’s be honest—none of us want to be disappointed or experience difficulties. Even so, God tells us not to fear disappointments and difficulties.

This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself: The story of God reveals God as the Deliverer. The plot of the story may seem to be headed into an “E” key disaster. Whatever it is, even something meant for evil, God will use for good in the big story of God.

Even when the “E” key breaks in your life—God will use disappointments and difficulties for good in His big story.

Learning with you to look at the big story instead of the “E” key,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)