On sleepless nights I often play solitaire on my iPhone. The particular app I use has a daily challenge. When you win it, you get a crown on the calendar for that day. I think there are other perks to it but I just like to beat it for the day.
When the last card is successfully played and the game is won, the cards go flying in random directions all over the screen and then all come back together in suit. What looks like a total mess ends up with them all in a neat little stack in perfect order.
In sleeplessness I carried my exhaustion in prayer to my Father, asking Him to bring some comfort and rest, then reached for my iPhone to beat that Daily Challenge for this day. In my spirit I heard Him whisper, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 NIV)
It is a daily challenge, every moment of every day. He never promised it would be easy, in fact His promise was that it would NOT be easy. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)
Like the cards that go flying in every direction, things in my life often seem to be in total dissarray, a total mess, unorganized, and chaotic. But I know from my experience with Him that He brings all things together for good for those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28)
Everything in my daily challenge is not good. Everything that God does or allows is not necessarily to make me happy or comfortable. But I know this….everything God does or allows is for purpose. His purpose. And I have committed myself to Him.
I purpose to continue on with the daily challenge. When I get defeated, I rise up the next day and play again.
Besides….He has already won. Every single hand. "…take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)
I will lose a hand, often. But I continue the challenge and expect eventual victory because “the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world. (1John 4:4 NIV personalized by me)
