Script Change

 

9/19/2020

 

Luke 22:28 “Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.”

The battle is REAL! Life, as very still as it is because of Covid-19, is also moving at the speed of light for many of us. Massive change has been a real part of the year 2020, onj both a global and personal scale. My family is going through change and transition as well, and it always brings with it growing pains, especially when the change is difficult. This, again, is true for so many people who have experienced loss, and sadly, there has been so much loss.

In my world, things are happening that could wind up being very positive, but they will certainly come with an emotional cost, and I am already feeling it. Temptation, during these changing times, seems to be very vivid. Chambers cautions, “Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh and the devil.” For me currently, as I said, the battle is real.

The other day, as we were getting news about our possible transition, I told my husband that I was calmly freaking out. He looked at me oddly and said he had never heard anyone say that. It was odd, actually, because I was experiencing a peace at the same time my brain was going into overactive mode. As I have shared before, this is a classic OCD reaction. Ever since my husband lost his job, we have been praying and asking God to guide us, and we would follow His will for what is to come next. I was honest in that prayer, but ever since doors started closing in the areas that I wanted opened and opening in areas I had never considered, I have had that most-dreaded of all life questions rattling around in my mind: Why?

When I was ill and going through my dark night of the soul several years ago, my sister sent me the book When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way by Katrina Zeno. I have gifted it to many people over the years who are going through particularly difficult times. I recently shared it with dear friend who is currently undergoing a very tough situation. Just this morning, she offered me encouragement through prayer and reminded me that Zeno writes of life’s “script changes” and how they are a part of God’s plan for good. I am so grateful that she was led to share this truth with me this today, as I desperately needed to hear it. God’s timing is perfect. Zeno writes about the script we have for ourselves, and the script changes that God has. I understand this metaphor because my son is an actor as well as a writer. When a director or writer changes the script, it is his job to comply. This is always done to improve on the story.

And so it is with God. As the creator, when He changes my script, even if I think the story is going great, it is my job to trust Him, comply, and not fall into temptations of the world, flesh, or the devil. Just as a script change stretches and challenges and actor, so does a script change by my God. I must now put my full trust in him that the continuation of my story will be for good and His glory.