Yesterday morning, I took my wife to the airport so she could fly to Florida for a women’s conference for the weekend. It was foggy as we drove, but by the time the flight would take off, the fog was likely to have lifted.
Unfortunately, the flight was delayed at takeoff, but not because of fog. The plane was ready to head for the skies, but the brakes were put on and everybody was deplaned. Why? It was one very small reason: there was an unauthorized passenger aboard the aircraft that needed to be removed. It was a mouse.
I’m not sure what the authorities used to deal with the mouse, whether it was a trap, a vacuum cleaner or a herd of cats, but after about three hours, the plane was declared ready for takeoff once again, and the flight resumed as normal, albeit delayed.
Do you ever find unexpected little things cause big headaches in your life? I think we all have these sorts of experiences, though not necessarily involving mice and large aircraft. How can we respond to them?
The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46.1, NIV). That’s not just a trite verse; it’s the truth of God’s Word, that in any kind of trouble – mouse-sized or elephant-sized – God will be with you.
When you’re in the midst of one of these niggling little difficulties, try using that verse as a “breath prayer” – something you say to God with the rhythm of your breathing – as a means of expressing your faith that God will take care of you. Watch how it affects your demeanor! Perhaps your friends will wonder what’s gotten into you, that you’ve become more calm in the midst of strife. Then you can tell them: God is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Whatever may be your trial right now…God is with you. God is for you. Let him be your refuge and strength.
Dr. Jeff Loach is Pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Nobleton, ON. He blogs at http://www.passionatelyhis.com/.
