trbccoffeebreak

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35 (TNIV)

Have  you ever wondered why some people are just so hard to work with?  Some days you don’t know whether to smile or run for cover.  Had one of those experiences myself.  Couldn’t quite get a handle on it.  My coworker and I had always related well – we were lunch buddies.  Exhausted and trying to continuously meet deadlines left me frustrated. How could my co-worker be so oblivious to my crisis?  Couldn’t she see how much time she was wasting?  Very quickly my list began to pile up against her as my stress increased.  Wasn’t she a team player?  Couldn’t she see how her lack of work was impacting my deadline?

As my spirit rose within me, God quietly whispered – “Remember, she’s not a believer.”  Those words halted my thoughts.  My co-worker didn’t have the same resources I had.  She was operating out of her flesh (sin nature); but I was to operate out of the Spirit (God’s nature). Swallowing my exasperation, I focused on my tasks and kept pressing forward – my lips were silenced.  A few day’s later, I ran into my co-worker in the restroom.  As she turned her face away, I could see that her eyes were red and puffy.  Refraining from nosey questions, I instead  offered a hug and a shoulder to cry on – that was the right prescription.  What an opportunity I almost missed!  Remember, she was the same co-worker who was getting under my skin.  If I had responded to her the way I intended (in my sin nature), she would not have welcomed my help.  God orchestrates divine appointments every day.  Are we leaving the channels for His love to reach others open or are we too busy piling up accusations?

“Father, give us hearts that truly demonstrate Your love and teach us how to be Your hands and feet to a world that is desperately searching.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break