After The Teaching Comes The Test!

carolynpriesterjones

February 3

When Jay and I taught nursing students, the first classes were lectures and demonstrations by us. Then came practice with manikins.

And then the big day came when we went to hospitals and nursing homes. The students got to use those skills on real patients. It was not as easy as it was in the classroom.

Jesus began His training of disciples with lectures. He also demonstrated how to live what He was teaching.

But then He sent them out where they had to use what they learned in the real world. It was not as easy as they thought it would be.

I have discovered God does the same with me. He teaches me. I get so excited I eagerly take notes. My notes become my blog posts and I share with you.

But then inevitably comes the test. He wants to see if I really learned what He taught me. That part is tough.

After a good run of learning and writing, a couple of days ago, I was hit with a Sjorgrens flair. All the usual things I do to try to "right the ship" have not worked so far.

I began to panic as symptoms escalated. I don't feel like the faith filled missionary I did a few days ago. I feel like a mess. 😳

I reverted to asking God over and over again, "Why." I asked if I were being punished for something I had done or left undone. I asked if I was being punished for now showing such lack of faith.

He said I was not being punished. I was being tested.

I asked Him what to do. Just as I wrote recently, He said, "Trust Me. I have a Plan."

I again said, 'Great. Let's get on with it."

He patiently repeated everything He taught me recently. And He reminded me how many times it is recorded in The Bible that He spoke from the storms. He did not stop the storms to speak.

And so He is speaking. The storm continues for now. And I am trying again to put into practice all He is teaching me. Prayers appreciated.

Once again, I take comfort in Paul's admission he did not have it all together yet either.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14