Disconnected

I write a new blog entry every Friday – but not this past Friday.  There was no blog.  There were no emails.  There was no catching up on Facebook or Twitter.  There was nothing at all.  I had lost my internet connection!

Frustration flowed into my mind and set in my heart like fresh poured cement.  At first I was just disappointed on Wednesday when it all began.  The frustration came on Friday when I couldn’t write my blog.  Further anxiety took hold on Saturday and drained me of all joy for the day.  It was just an internet connection malfunction but I couldn’t shake the “down in the dumps” feeling that took up residence in my heart.

Then, a phone conversation with the technician and presto! Here I am back online!  Frustration disappeared immediately!  Joy returned in full!  Oh what ecstasy.

At first, I had made my own attempts to find and fix the problem.  Nothing worked.   I tried   just one more click of this and moving that and – still nothing.  Only when I phoned the technician, listened to the instructions and followed them, did I get my connection back and frustrations melted away.

We all experience occasional internet malfunction.  There are also situations in life that can give us relationship malfunction.  It might be relationship malfunction with God; it might be relationship malfunction with people around us.  Things seem to be going well and then suddenly, we discover we are disconnected.  Disappointment comes, then frustration, then we realize our joy has slipped away.

We try to repair the situation on our own – usually by ignoring it and hoping it all just goes away and normalcy returns by itself.  Those hopes are usually dashed as feelings of separation takes control of our thoughts.

How do we get connected again?  God’s own Word is our instruction manual for any situation in life.  It is only when we go to it and search like we are looking for buried treasure, that we find what we need.  I love Proverbs 2: 3-5, “Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.  Then you will understand what it means to fear (honor and respect) the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”

It’s a promise.  When we seek and find, we are connected once more.  Frustration is replaced by that lovely, sweet joy, that only comes when we are choosing to obey the instructions found in Philippians 4:6-8, “…Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable.  Think about these things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Today I pray for all of us to choose to stay connected; to “fix our thoughts” on our Father and His instructions that always bring peace into our frustrated worlds.