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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Chillax (04/03/14)
One of my fatal flaws is when life's problems come up I don't ask the Lord for help. This became apparent one day on my commute between Belleville and Shrewsberry. I ride Metro Transit to work which offers bus and light rail train service.

It was 5:30 in the morning; I was feeling warm in my light jacket and that is not normal for early April. Approaching the bus stop, I heard tornado sirens. I felt my stomach turning inside out because I didn't know where the tornado was. I boarded the bus for Belleville station and wondered if I would have a home to go back to at the end of the day.

I arrived at the Belleville station and boarded the train. Everything seemed tranquil as I started my journey. As we approached the Fairview Heights Station, I could hear the sound of the rain pelting the windows. At one point, I heard a crack of thunder that was so loud, had I been twenty years older, I might have had a heart attack.

Then we arrived at the Fifth and Missouri Station and just sat there, and I felt myself getting impatient. After about five minutes I heard the following announcement, "Ladies and gentleman due to the severe weather there are track alignment problems; we will be delayed. We should be on our way momentarily." I shook my head thinking, Track alignment? What does that mean? Ten minutes passed, I started to feel this nervous feeling in my legs; at the same time I would hear the same announcement about every two minutes.

It had been twenty minutes and we still had not left the station. I felt my jaw starting to tighten as my nervous feeling turned into anger.

I glanced at the lady in the seat across from me who had just got on. "You might get there faster if you drive. We could be sitting here for the next two hours."

She grinned and said, "I don't have a place to park; I have to take the Metro."

Finally, I started to pray. Lord, please help me, I feel like I am getting angry. After about thirty minutes we started to move, and I felt relief wash over me .

I arrived at the Eighth and Pine Station. I needed to switch to the blue line train to take me to Shrewsberry, otherwise I would end up at the airport. Under normal circumstances, I would only have a six minute wait. I was optimistic that the blue line train should be there in a few minutes. Ten minutes passed, no train, I started to pace, wondering if I would need to call Gale, my supervisor, and tell her that I'd be late to work.

Finally the blue line train came and we were merrily on our way and didn't have any more problems. When I saw my car at Shrewsberry station, it was a sight for sore eyes, I was really glad to see my car.

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks Philippians 4:6 (NCV)

When these situations happen, I need to calm down and prayerfully put it in God's hands. I felt like I was anxious and crabby. In the past, I might have acted out on my crabbiness. I had two and half hours before I had to be at work I had no reason to be upset. I need to trust the Lord with something so insignificant as getting to work.

Dear Lord,
Please help me remember that no problem is too big for you. When these problems
Come, help me to trust you so I can have rest for my soul. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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This article has been read 851 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
04/11/14
A peaceful reality, God and His amazing grace.

Wonderful writing.

God bless~
Matt Guddat
04/14/14
A flowing piece. Easy to read from start to finish. I liked your blunt opening and how you drew out a little suspense.

It could be cool to write this again and describe what your senses picked up: sight, sound, touch, taste, feel. This would help the reader to experience the frustration and panic you felt, and therefore drive the message home, yet I know word limit makes this hard in challenges.

Great stuff,

Blessings
Matt Guddat
04/14/14
Oh shoot, just saw you weren't looking for red ink. Sorry. Genuinely enjoyed this piece.
Larry Whittington
04/15/14
You built successfully on your first sentence. From it the plot thickened.

In situations like this we may not take the time to decide if the problem is "our problem" or "their problem". If it is their problem, we don't have to be the one that solves the problem even though we are affected by it.

If we determine it is their problem, our problem is "how to have patience during their problem.

This would be a good story situation to show we can get all "bogged down" with other people's problem if we let it get to us.