"Houston, we've had a problem..."

How many people can hear those words said aloud when we the read "Houston, we have a problem."?  I know that I do.  I can still see Tom Hanks' face as he says those words playing the role of James Lowell in the movie "Apollo 13."  People a little more mature than I am might even remember Jack Swigert saying similar words (repeated by Lowell) on the real flight of Apollo 13.  So, why am I thinking about these today?  The movie happened in 1995 and the real Apollo 13 happened in 1970.  What I have been thinking about is that these words are true for all of us. 

All of us at some point in our lives have just thrown up our hands and say those special words, "I have a problem." Yes, we all have, every single one of us.  What we wish though is to be able to call some sort of helpline and get things sorted out.  At least I have.  However, that is something that I have come to see as something I don't want.

Now you must be thinking to yourself, "Why? Why wouldn't he want a way out of trouble?"  The truth is that I do want a way out.  But I have found that God has allowed me into trouble for two reasons.  One -- so that I learn to reach out and ask Him and those around me for help.  Two -- for His glory, so that I can show his glory and majesty to those around me and so He can teach me how to lean in on Him. 

The first reason has been a big part of my spiritual growth recently.  I used to be the kind of person who would always (and I mean ALWAYS) believed that I could take anything on and handle it myself.  I viewed myself as a jack-of-all-trades, as a renaissance man, and as a person that if I didn't know it now, I would in like 30 seconds.  Truth is that I feared to reach out to another person and admit that I could NOT do something.  So I never did.  And that's part of why I made choices that led me down a dark path.  Yet God did not create us to live lives alone, without other people.  In fact, the definition of love includes being able to do something for someone else and being loved means that you let others do things for you.  But after hitting the bottom of isolating myself I soon found out how important it is to live with other people--in ALL the areas of my life.

The second reason has been a more difficult thing for me to handle and accept.  I totally get the idea of asking God for help so that I can get out of a difficult situation.  But what if the answer God gives me is, "Wait."?  I have received that answer far too often for my comfort.  What if the answer means that I will have to lose something--or someone?  What if the answer is that by my pain and suffering means someone else finds healing in God?  The truth I have seen is that we will always encounter trouble.  We need it to grow.  We encounter it because of our bad choices.  It is inflicted upon us by people who harbor hate in their hearts.  Sometimes I have found trouble entering into my life because I have been doing great in my faith in Jesus.

'The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.' 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NCV)

 This piece of scripture tells me that temptation and suffering is common to us all.  The exact way it troubles us may differ.  It also assures me that God provides a way out of it for all of us.

'We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” That Scripture says “anyone” because there is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all and gives many blessings to all who trust in him, as the Scripture says, “Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.”'  Romans 10:10-13 (NCV)

I have found that the word "saved" can mean several different things.  It can mean having everything as I want it.  But it can also mean being saved from danger in ways I couldn't have ever imagined.  In fact, it always seems to come up more like the latter.  How I get saved also changes from time to time.  But the one thing that I have found through this is the fact that God's overwhelming power, enwrapping love, and all-knowing mind cares for me (and you!) and desires that in all things I seek Him, talk to Him, and be with Him.  So even if I am in a "Houston, I have a problem" situation I know that He will get me through and that my value is based on that rather than on what I can or can't do.