Life's Technical Difficulties

I pressed POWER and waited for the newly-installed satellite TV to turn on. After a long day of work, I was expecting to kick my feet up and watch some Mythbusters, or something like it. But instead of my beloved Discovery Channel, an error message appeared on the screen. I turned the unit off and on again, but nothing but the error message and technical support number flashed on the screen. My expectations of relaxing mindlessly in front of the tube were now delayed. How annoying.

I picked up the phone and called the toll-free number. I couldn't fix the problem myself, so what other options did I have? Since it was well after normal business hours, I didn’t know if I would speak to an actual person. Fortunately, though, I was able to get a human on the line to help me troubleshoot the problem. Five minutes, max, is about how long it took for the voice on the other end of the phone to walk me through resetting my satellite receiver and restoring a quality picture and sound to my television. I flipped to my favorite channel, sat back, and my expectations of relaxation were realized.

Whenever life's reality falls short on my expectations, I become quickly annoyed and upset. Even though my life seems perfect compared to the rest of the world, I still look around and wish my life were as painless as my neighbors' appears to be. Sure I have a beautiful wife, a loving family, great friends, a steady job, a big house, two vehicles, and a clean bill of health; but I'm still frustrated about the one area of my life that is not working like it's supposed to. I'm not referring to a slow internet connection or a poor picture on my high-def TV. I'm referring to procreation.

In the case of infertility, when things aren't working the way they're supposed to, everything in me wants a simple solution to the problem. I find myself dumbfounded. I don't like being without answers; I want to know the process for quick and efficient problem resolution.

When biology doesn't seem to work as it's supposed to, we go to doctors--our technical support. They test and observe and re-test. They diagnose the problem to the best of their abilities, but their answer is that they have no answer. Medical science, as we know it today, has no answer. So with guidance from the specialist, we begin to troubleshoot. We expend time and money and emotional energy attempting to overcome the biological error code. But it's an arduous process of elimination, seemingly little more than guesswork.

Sometimes I just want a quick fix to the technical difficulties of life. I find myself calling on God asking Him to manually reset the situation.  "FIX IT!" I cry out in desperate prayers. "You're in control...You've got the power...Just press the button - pull the lever - flip the switch - open the door already!"

Impatience is never helpful. But it's a part of my sin-stained flesh. I don't want to wait for the fix. It should be done...yesterday. It's my life, so it's my timetable.

But that's where I'm wrong -- on both points.

"But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you." Jeremiah 26:14

It's not my life; it's not even my timetable.

"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:1,4,9

My life is in His hands, and He holds the clock.

"...Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

Therefore, what choice do I have but to sit and wait for the Divine Technician and Great Physician to carry out His will in my life?

In truth, what other choice would I want??

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:23-26

~David