Stepping Stones: The Terminator Tutor

Transformational Tip

When I first started my psychiatric practice, one problem I really struggled with for awhile…a patient who didn’t show up for their appointment. My mind was stressed as several issues hindered me. Was the patient in a car accident on their way…my loss of income…me having to bill them for a missed appointment…someone who was on my waiting list and in distress could have been seen if the missing person had given some notice.

Who wants problems? Nobody, right? But try thinking about problems differently. An ongoing problem can be like a tutor…a teacher that is always by your side teaching you. Your learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be “teachable”. The bottom line here is whether or not you can trust God to use the difficulties in your life for goodness.

If you want to learn all that your God has prepared for you…then you must accept his teaching methods. The more humble you are, the more teachable you are…the more teachable and flexible you are, the more you learn…the more you learn, the better you’ll understand life…the more you understand, the easier life is….the easier life is, the more you’ll glorify God…the more you glorify God, the more peace, contentment, and fulfillment you have as you achieve the mind of Christ.

You see, for me, I started looking at why God was allowing cancellations to occur. What the cancellations taught me – I was a control addict. I needed my agenda to happen my way. When it didn’t, this derailed me. These cancellations were an incredible tutor to me. Now I enjoy cancellations and trust God’s sovereignty, knowing He has something better than I planned during that time slot for me to enjoy.

Remember today that God is the potter and you are the clay. How flexible are you willing to be in His skillful hands? Take inventory. Any recurring problems? Let God tutor you using these problems. This tutor is relentless, like the Terminator, so don’t ignore it.

Prayer
Dear Father, I come to you with embarrassment as I confess that I really don’t like this tutor at all. What I really want is to have my problems taken away, I want to run away from my problems…Haven’t I spent enough time with this teacher? Isn’t there a simpler less painful way to learn? Father God, I pray to You to help me trust You more, to trust that You intend my problems for something good…to transform me. I will try beginning today to see my problems as blessings in disguise which are stepping stones to my gradual transformation into Your likeness…depending on You, developing Your perspective, and understanding what is really important to You. Help me this day; empower me be a Lighthouse, reflecting Your light to others with ever-increasing Glory.
I pray this in the name of my Perfect Tutor, Jesus Christ – and all God’s children say, AMEN!

The Truth
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33