The doorbell of the front door of my office rang out about 45 minutes earlier than when the first couriers came. How odd, I thought. It was 740 AM and only my billing manager and myself were at the office. With no one in the front office, I answered the door. A man was standing, clutching a paper in his hand.
“Why are you sending my son to collections? How could you do this? He’s just a kid, 19 years old!”
My bewildered look only served to inflame his anger.
“HOW could you do this?” He repeated, shouting loud enough for the entire building complex to hear.
I needed to defuse this situation. “Sir, I am unfamiliar with your son’s case but I would like to work with you to resolve this.” I opened the door and invited him to enter our office and introduced him to my billing manager. After a few tense minutes, my manager was able to calm him down and show how we made repeated attempts to call and contact his son over the previous 4 months. As a last attempt, we sent him a voicemail on his cell phone stating that he would be sent to collections. The reason for the unresponsiveness was immediately clear to his father. The referring dermatologist had copied down the wrong address. Mollified, he abruptly apologized, agreed to pay the balance on his son’s bill and then quickly exited our office.
Jumping to conclusions, we have all been there. How often have I been furious over situations that I erroneously concluded that the other party was at fault? A missed automatic payment occurred because I neglected to update my credit card. An insurance contract unexpectedly expired because I answered a question incorrectly. I often jump to hasty conclusions over conflicts involving human relationships. Do I do the same with God?
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
Romans 8:20 (ESV)
The Bible warns us about arriving at a hasty explanation for our circumstances. God has created each of us for specific purposes. Throughout our lives, some of these purposes are revealed to us. However, many purposes remain hidden. Only in the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will God’s complete purpose for my life be revealed to me. The physical limitations I complained about were a solemn opportunity to allow God to show His grace and mercy in my life to encourage others with a similar plight. The professional relationship that soured was God protecting me from a future litigious onslaught. I have seen these and many other examples in my life and I continue to be humbled and in awe of God’s providence. In spite of this knowledge and experience, I may still complain about the circumstances of my life.
How could I do this?
I am a sinner and I desperately need a Savior to restore my broken, corrupted soul and strengthen and broaden my faith.
I need Jesus Christ.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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