November 5, 2019

Early yesterday morning, I got up, took out the dogs, made coffee, and sat down at the computer to write the Daily Devotional.

Once I finished, proofed, and saved the devotion, I logged onto the email marketing service our church uses to send it on its way. Nothing happened.

As I sat there dumbfounded, wondering why the program would not work, I began trying everything I could think of to load the devotion onto the platform. Nothing happened.

After spending over an hour punching meaningless buttons on the keyboard, and having no technical skills, I was at my wits end. Then, just before I gave up on religion, I remembered what I had written in the devotional: “Life comes with curve balls but God will always be there to see you through.” I decided to pay attention to my own advice.

So instead of getting more and more frustrated, I decided I would wait to get to the church and send the devotional from there. I felt much better.

I have noticed that most of the things that frustrate me, in the scheme of life, are not that big a deal. Sending out a devotion later in the day than I would like, a rouge bull tearing up a fence, an inconsiderate neighbor, a rude waiter, drivers who take their half of the road in the middle, people who think kale is food or that chicken and fish qualify as meat, long lines at the bank, watching my team lose, seeing somebody this past Sunday looking at their phone not realizing that I am God’s gift to preaching, the person at the grocery store with 16 items who gets in the 15 items or less checkout lane, my list of frustrations goes on and on and on…..

But when I take a candid look at the cause of most of my frustrations, it boils down to my exaggerated sense of importance. That’s not good.

So if you are like me and think you are the end-all, be-all, please hear this. You aren’t that important. Neither am I. The world would keep turning without any of us.

So just enjoy the ride and don’t let the little irritants in life mess up your day. Someday you will go to your true home.

David said it best: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23)

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, whenever I become frustrated by life, remind me that you are in charge and you will bring me home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

When I pulled up to the church this morning, I expected to see a huge panicked crowd of people who were desperate to know why they didn’t receive the Daily Devotional. I got nothing. Maybe I am not as important as I think I am?

Just kidding. I’m very important. If you don’t believe me, just ask me.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins