We have all seen a person who struggles with an inside out umbrella. The wind catches it just right and BAM! Inside out. Life is like that sometimes. Things seem to be going smoothly then all of a sudden, our lives are inside out and upside down. Why am I talking in raining metaphors? Well, one reason is it has been raining like crazy here. Second reason is most of us associate a rainy day with sadness, which leads me to talk about my topic.

Photo Credit: Ed Yourdon via Compfight cc

One of the hardest things for a missionary to face is being away from family. If you are single, it is especially hard as you have no immediate family around you (like spouse and kids). The next hardest thing is being away from family during a major life event. This could be the death of a loved one or the birth of new family member. Skype only gets you so far before you want to talk to your family face to face and give them a hug.

It seems like the past couple of years, I have been faced with both of these cases. I feel torn. I want to be with my family, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. I want to be in several places at one time, but I am only one person. I can only be in one place at a time. The one of the hardest tests for me was when my sister’s husband was deployed and she was at home with a new baby and a toddler. There were times I wanted to jump through the computer screen and give her a day off from worry and loneliness.

How can we deal with the times where life turns our umbrellas inside out? One way is to get mad at God, give up and go home. This is the easy route, the tempting route, the route that says, Curse God and die. This route leads to personal and spiritual failure.

The other way is to say, God has a plan and I will only be fulfilled if I am doing that plan. Yes, it is painful. Yes, it is at times lonely. Yes, there are times you want to scream, Why me? Why my family? Why? Sometimes we never hear the answer to the Why me? But I can tell you that God is right there beside you and right beside your family. He walks with us and will carry the load much better than we can. We just need to give it to Him.

There are so many times in life when we feel crushed by the weight of the load on our backs. We don’t have to feel this way. God is ready and able to carry these burdens and cares. Remember in 1 Peter 5:7 He says,

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 Then again in Matthew 11:28-30;

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When life seems inside out, look to God. He can help you look past the rain to find the rainbow of His care and promise.

I have been preaching to myself again with this blog post, but if it was a blessing to you, will you leave a comment? In the meantime, I am off to give my burdens to the Ultimate Burden Bearer.