When you hear the word “stewardship,” what comes to mind? If you are like most Christians, you think of the three T’s—Time, Talent, and Treasure—over which God has called us to exercise good stewardship. But did you ever think about stewardship as it relates to the storms and struggles of life? Since God is causing “all things to work together for good to those who love God,” as Romans 8:28 attests, then we have a great responsibility to be good stewards of the storms and struggles of life that He sends our way (Lamentations 3:38).
So how do we do it? We submit, surrender, and share our struggles and storms with our Savior. Listen, when you are facing the storms and struggles in this life, you have to take your experience and resulting feelings somewhere! Some men and women bottle them up inside until the day they explode, leaving a trail of discouraged, damaged, and even destroyed relationships in their wake. Others snap and snarl at everyone in earshot. There is a price that must be paid for poor stewardship of the storms and struggles in life, and frequently the price is paid by those around us, the very ones God has given to us to cherish, love, and nurture.
But this is not for you! There is a better way to exercise good stewardship over our storms and struggles, and the weeping prophet Jeremiah provides us the model:
O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. (Jeremiah 20:7)
Jeremiah knew where to turn in the midst of his storm, and his painful prayer should produce profound comfort for you and me. Jeremiah was in the midst of a season of struggle; he felt deceived, betrayed, overwhelmed, he had become the object of ridicule by the ungodly, and what did he do?
First, let’s notice what he did not do. Jeremiah did not bottle his feelings up inside, like many of us do, only to blow up and bury all those around him. He did not snap and snarl at everyone within earshot. He took his pain to God. And that, dear reader, is the key to being a good steward of the storms and struggles of life. They must be taken to the only One who can do something about it . . . the One who has ultimately sent it to you for your good and His glory.
The same prophet who gave us the great promise from God about a future plan of purpose and prosperity (Jeremiah 29:11) also gave us this picture of crying out to God during a season of intense spiritual struggle. This should be a source of great encouragement to us; we are not alone, and our struggles are not unique to us. Everyone struggles, even great prophets!
The very best stewards of the storms and struggles in this life stand in the shadow of the cross. Deceived . . . betrayed . . . overwhelmed . . . the object of ridicule? Lay it all at the foot of the cross. Jesus is able to do for you what no one else can do; He gives you a place to bring every storm and struggle.
So what have you been doing in this area? What would those closest to you say you do with your storms and struggles? Is there anyone in your life right now to whom you need to confess your poor stewardship and ask for forgiveness? Remember, Jesus paid the price in full for your faults and failures, and you are still the object of His desire. There is no need to minimize . . . no need to cover up . . . no need to hide in fear. The One you call Lord and Savior opens doors no man can shut and shuts doors no man can open.
This is the gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 