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Nathan Martin
Recently I went through an experience that I really didn't like.
We moved our website from one server company to another to provide
us with more room and flexibility for our growing online ministries.
Sounded like a good idea at the time!
In preparation for the move I investigated the new server,
checked into making sure everything was ready for the big move and
even made some contingency plans for back email, etc. I made my
list, double-checked everything, backed up the site and
"flipped the switch" to get the site moved.
Everything looked like it was working fine at first and I was
quite relieved. Then we started getting intermittent website
outages. Then email to various users at christianchallenge.org
started bouncing. Then I started loosing even more hair!
For the next two weeks I spent hours and hours searching,
researching, investigating and even praying (a little bit), trying
to find the problem. In the end it ended up being a fairly simple
mistake by another party that caused us to have the problems we did.
After submitting the final resolution we then had to wait 48 hours
for the rest of the Internet to see the new site.
Those two weeks were difficult. But the most difficult were the
last few days, after we had diagnosed the problem and then had to
wait for someone else to make the changes on their end. As much as I
wanted to, I couldn't make the changes for them. No matter how hard
I tried, the matter was out of my hands. And so I sat. And fumed.
Through all of this I think the Lord taught me a lesson.
Sometimes there are things that are out of your control. What's
important is not so much what you do but what kind of attitude do
you have when you can do nothing. Will you fret, worry and lament?
Will you become angry and bitter? Will you get frustrated and lash
out at those around you?
The question the Lord asks is, "Will you trust Me?"
That's the ultimate question, one that He asks us over and over in
our lives (maybe until we get the answer right!).
 I think that's part of the
issue Paul was facing in 2
Cor. 12:7-10 when he talked about his thorn in the flesh. Much
debate has been offered regarding the identity of the thorn. But I
think part of the point of the thorn (if you pardon the pun) was to
teach Paul to trust God in every situation. Paul asked the Lord on
three different occasions to remove the thorn and each time the
Lord's response was, "My gracious favor is all you need. My
power works best in your weakness." (2
Cor 12:9b NLT)
It's as if the Lord is saying to Paul, "Paul, I want you to
trust me in this. You think you need the thorn removed to be
effective but all you really need is to trust in my grace. In fact,
I work best when it's out of your control. Your weakness makes my
strength that much more apparent!"
Paul went on to say, "So now I am glad to boast about
my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.
Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my
weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and
calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2
Cor. 12:9c-10 NLT)
I think Paul got the point. When he could not, God could. When
we're out of control, God is still in control. And His grace is
still sufficient today. May we learn to lean on that grace and find
it continuously amazing. Because when we're not in control ....
that's a good thing!
Nathan Martin is the Associate Pastor of Christian Challenge and
the director of the School for Christian Workers. He served four
years as a missionary to southern Mexico before returning to
minister with his father at CCI. He oversees the worship and
technology ministries and teaches the High School group along with
his wife Lori. They have three daughters, Joi, Faith and Hope.
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It's
Out of Your Control
