Scriptsure: Ecclesiastes 3:6 - ...a time to search and a time to give up.
"Sometimes this is easy to discern - when to keep looking...Other situations are more complicated." Have you ever lost something and had to search for it, but after exhausting yourself given up on ever finding it? This has happened to Josh and several occasions and to me on a few. However, there was one time that we lost something very important and we had to find it...it was the expiration sticker for the tag of our popup camper and we needed it for vacation! We looked high and low, in and out, and all around for that stupid little 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch sticker just to be disappointed and give up. We headed out with his family towards Colorado without it...It was very frustrating to me! Of course, there was a laundry list of worries about not having this little sticker. We called the DMV and they said they could not fax us a copy or letter or any proof that we were actually within the dates and that only the sticker would do.
We made it to Topeka and decided we must return home to try and track it down. We left the family and dogs at the rest station hoping to only be gone about 2 hours. However, when Josh and I made it to Lawrence our truck's water pump went out...talk about a harsh blow...we were now 30 minutes from home and 30 minutes from the family with no way of getting either places! It was very frustrating! During our wait for a tow truck, I was crying out inwardly for God to just shoot me...what a horrible start to a week long vacation. I was also crying out for him to have this repaired timely so we could carry on.
We got "lucky", some might say, and were able to find a shop to take us in the same day to repair the truck...that only took 6 hours! By the time we made it to our house to do another search for this little sticker, we had used 8 hours...a whole day! We whirled around the house looking for this sticker and Josh was just sure he knew where it was, but he couldn't locate it. After an hour, I went to our bedroom...I was tried, sore, sunburned, frustrated, mad, and a lot more. I cried out in a whiny voice, "God, just lest us find that stupid sticker! Please!" Just as I finished breathing my "last" breath, Josh yelled, "I've got it! Let's get out of here!" I've had to search for a lot of things in my life, but this little sticker got the best of me for sure!
On a happier searching note, you'll love the Elk story about Josh...this story is about searching for a thing you desire. On a week long trip through Colorado, Josh had a main themed goal...to see an elk or several elk. We were on the last 2 days of the trip and we still had not spotted any elk. Josh was very sour about it. It became a top of discussion in the truck.
Josh: I just want to see an elk. Is that such a big deal? Is it too much to ask for a vacation?
Jana: Well, why don't you ask God to let you see an elk? It's not too big or too much for him.
(Josh rolled his eyes at this point and was teetering on a decision.)
Jason: Yeah, you should pray about it.
Josh: Okay. Dear God, I want to see an elk. I've been looking on this trip and haven't seen one yet. Is it too much to ask to see an elk? I just want to see an elk. Please.
Everyone: Amen.
The topic shifted only slightly as we continued down the road. About 10 minutes after Josh's prayer, we spotted an elk with HUGE antlers...It was a prize just laying in the grass regal and tall. Did I mention the elk was on an Elk FARM? We all laughed at Josh and he was mad because it wasn't a wild elk to which I responded, "You didn't specify. God answered your prayer quite literally...it's just an elk!"
"Prayer is the key idea here. I think we all have to do our own part in any given situation, but we also have to know when to stop, have faith, and wait for God to move." Sometimes we can get caught up in our own search for things (money, happiness, love, affirmation, appreciation, definition, etc) that we forget there is a time to give up and move on. Sometimes the moving on part is the hardest, but it's what we need most...to carry on and to live.
What are you searching for? Is it worth the search or is it time to give up and go on living?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtdAJqETcmg&feature=related
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