target

Everybody has difficulty in life, but several years ago, Brian Hise of Provo, Utah experienced more difficulty than any human being should have on a single day. First, a water pipe broke in the upstairs apartment above his own and flooded his apartment. So the manager told him to go out and rent a water vacuum.

That's when he discovered his car had a flat tire. He changed the tire and went inside to phone a friend for help. Standing in the water, the electric shock he got from the phone startled him and he ripped the phone off the wall.

Before he could leave the apartment a second time, a neighbor had to kick down his apartment door because water damage had jammed it tight. While all of this was going on, somebody stole Brian's car. But it was almost out of gas, so he found it a few blocks away. He then had to push it to a gas station.

That evening, Hise attended a military ceremony at B.Y.U. and he injured himself severely when he somehow sat down on his own bayonet which had been tossed onto the front seat of his car.

Doctors were able to stitch up his wounds but no one was able to resuscitate Brian's four canaries which were crushed to death when wet ceiling plaster in his apartment fell on them while he was gone.

When he got home, he slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone. Mr. Hise said he began to wonder if "God wanted me dead but kept missing."

Ever had days you felt that way? I recall an Old Testament character who felt the same way. After suffering hardship upon hardship, listen to these words of Job spoken to God:

"Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?" (Job 7:19-20a, NIV)

We know that Job was not "targeted" by God. In truth, God was his source of strength in time of trial and his Redeemer when the story was over. In the midst of adversity, when everything seems to be going wrong that possibly could go wrong, it's tempting to feel the same way. Be assured -- God has not made you a "target." He is, in fact, your source of strength to get through those tough times. May you rely on that today.

"Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!" (Psalm 30:10)

-alan smith