The Average Jane Journal #10 - Satan's Garage Sale

Satan's Garage Sale
Once upon a time, Satan was having a garage sale. There, standing in little groups were all of his bright, shiny trinkets. Here were tools that make it easy to tear others down for use as stepping stones. And over there were some lenses for magnifying ones own importance, which, if you looked through them the other way, you could also use to belittle others, or even one's self. Against the wall was the usual assortment of gardening implements guaranteed to help your pride grow by leaps and bounds: the rake of scorn, the shovel of jealousy for digging a pit for your neighbor, the tools of gossip and backbiting, of selfishness and apathy. All of these were pleasing to the eye and came complete with fabulous promises and guarantees of prosperity. Prices, of course, were steep; but not to worry! Free credit was extended to one and all. "Take it home, use it, and you won't have to pay until later!" old Satan cried, as he hawked his wares.The visitor, as he browsed, noticed two well worn, non-descript tools standing in one corner. Not being nearly as tempting as the other items, he found it curious that these two tools had price tags higher than any other. When he asked why, Satan just laughed and said, "Well, that's because I use them so much. If they weren't so plain looking, people might see them for what they were." Satan pointed to the two tools, saying, "You see, that one's Doubt and that one's Discouragement -- and those will work when nothing else will."

How does that story make you feel? It first made me see that I’m not the only one that gets tempted with doubt and discouragement. You see, most times I fail so badly with those two footholds that I get to feeling like I must be the only one. Second it makes me angry. Did you catch how those tools are “plain looking”? It makes me angry to think of satan having a good ole laugh when it comes to how many times he trips me up with these tools; how it’s so easy to make me doubt myself and God, and get so discouraged that it brings so many short “halts” in my spiritual walk.

As most of you know, the last year and a half has brought a new spiritual walk in my life. We all have things happen in our lives that brings on a “renewed, faster” walk with God. Even though those “happenings” were hard and painful, I am thankful for them. It has been an awesome part of my walk with God. Here on this earth, we will always be “walking”, but I’m closer to one of my many destinations on God’s itinerary for my journey.

One of those “happenings” is finding a new job. I don’t want to ramble on too much here, but most of you know that I feel like God has promised me a job; and that it will come through a way other than myself. I know it’s not the practical way to handle a job loss, but it’s my belief that it will happen in a way that will glorify God and not show my hand at all. Some days I do deal with doubt and discouragement though.

God has recently given me two verses to boost me and “stand back up”.

Romans 4:20-22 “Yet he(Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

I felt like God was telling me not to waver, to stay strong in His promise. I don’t know about you but I have trouble with holding myself worthy enough for God to either do something FOR me or THROUGH me. I was given another verse that helped me to remember how much God loves me.
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”

The last few days I have been reminded to hold fast to God’s promise, and that there is nothing wrong with my sincere desire for this situation to only bring God glory. At Bible study on Friday I told my story to the ladies in that class, and a couple of them prayed for me and my desire. When I got home that day I had a message from a friend(thank you Sonya) with a job she had found in a paper and she thought of me. It might not be the job for me, but it shows me that God has not left, even when I doubt. I did apply for the job, and I am a little excited but I want only to be in God’s will so if it doesn’t happen; that is alright with me.

I hope you will remember the story at the beginning of this entry next time you’re dealing with doubt and discouragement. Just think of satan and how much he loves those tools. Remember how the fact they are so “plain looking” is the reason why they work. Get angry(in a good way) about it, and strive to keep a better lookout for those tools. Talk about it with God and express to Him your desire to quit falling over those footholds. From my own experience, it feels like something I will never conquer; but prayerfully the battles will be fewer and smaller.

Let me just say that these doubts I am talking about are doubts that lead you AWAY from God, not doubts/questions that lead you TO God.