By George Crumley
Waking from a restless sleep, I wandered down to the quiet of my home office. No quick prayer would be appropriate for all that was on my mind. I needed answers. I was asking God to help me in areas that were work-related, for His intervention in the lives of others. I also had a few requests for me personally. The concerns that I presented to God were gathered from recent events, and there seemed to be no possibility for good outcomes in any of them. My imagination invited the fear of what could happen if God did not intercede and focused my thoughts on these seemingly unending problems.
The clock ticked loudly in my mind, reminding me that it would soon be time to leave for work, so I got up from my knees with a lingering doubt that anything would be resolved. I accepted that nothing would change today.
I proceeded to pick up my Bible and sat down to flip through its pages in an effort to quickly ignite the spark of encouragement that I had found so many times before.
As my eyes scanned over a familiar verse in Matthew, my reasoning was awakened to a bigger picture. I read the familiar words that said, “And she shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 KJV).
When Jesus was here on this earth, most people searched for Him because of what they had heard He could do for them. If there was a possibility for healing from a devastating and painful illness, they came. If there was potential for the deliverance of a loved one from the torturing influence of demons, they came. If there was the prospect of freedom from unbreakable Roman oppression, they came. They came to find relief from what bound them to hardship, from what they were powerless to change, from what was destroying their happiness and peace. This momentary thought connected me with those who lived before me—I too was looking for deliverance from things that were weighing me down. My prayer was about me and how I could get rid of my burdens and fears.
“I’m sorry, Lord!” It was easy to see the selfishness in the stories of others, but I was now reminded of it in my own experience. I don’t know how He works, but with that simple acknowledgement, enthusiasm and thankfulness replaced the burdens. Although circumstances had not changed, the words “I’m sorry” reconnected me with the Source of One who could provide the best outcomes. Worry dissipated, and I felt immense gratitude to Him for what He would do through His wisdom and power. He had become more than my good luck charm for the day, more than my fears and more than my doubts. He had indeed helped me to see that the burdens of life are made so much lighter when I allow Him to take His rightful place in my heart.
–George Crumley is RMC vice president for finance.