A Doug's Life: Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Do you ever have one of those days where you just wonder, "Why?"

I've been reading through Habakkuk in the Old Testament, and he sat back and asked that out loud to God. He was wondering why the bad guys win sometimes and the good guys are dying in the streets. He was like, "Where are you God? And why don't you do something?" God converses with him and gives him some answers to those questions. If you're interested in what they said, you should check it out.

But Habakkuk was burdened with this. It was heavy for him, and it weighed him down. Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel like someone tied this huge weight to your heart and it is just pulling you to the floor? Sometimes I'll ask the questions like Habakkuk. Sometimes I'll ask why do guys like Osama Bin Laden and Hugo Chavez reign terror down on people, both righteous and unrighteous? Why are innocent people in Iran, Africa, and through the Middle East suffering because of corrupt leaders? Why does the rain fall on sinners and saints? Sometimes my questions are different though. Sometimes I'll wonder why my life turned out this way. Why are things like this, and not like that? Why do I have to feel this way?

And that's when life just get's heavy. The world's on my shoulders and I just can't handle it anymore. I love to help others and be there for people, but soon my problems get so big I can't see past them. I get like Habakkuk, burdened.

So today, in the midst of all of this, I got hungry. Not metaphorically, but actually hungry. Why? Well, it was lunchtime. And all I could think about was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They're so good. Bread - good, jelly - great, peanut butter - amazing - put them all together and you've got a 3 punch combo that would make Rocky jealous. So I went to the store and bought the sandwich trifecta, came back to the office, made a sandwich (or two), and ate in utter delight. And for a moment, my problems were lost in a simple awesome sandwich. I hadn't had one in I don't know how long, and it felt really good just to eat one again.

Then I got to thinking, "Is this like God and my problems?" I get all wrapped up in my own little world and questions, and then I get weighed down so much I can't get up. You know what God told Habakkuk? "Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith." (Hab. 2:4) God told Habakkuk to trust Him. Why? Because He is God. He's got this. God is going to take care of the bad and the good.

In my doubt and my worry and my grief, I felt this need for a sweet PB&J. The sandwich is a lot like my faith. In my grief and despair, I need God more than anything. And just like I know that PB&J is going to be awesome, I know God is going to be Righteous and Providential. Do I think my problems are big? Yeah, but I know Jesus is bigger (John 16:33).

And just because I know other people have big problems doesn't make mine any smaller either. Everyone has stuff, big and small. But you know what's awesome? Our lives can be defined not by our problems, but by our faith in a God that loves us and knows our name. I used to work for an ECU VP Dr. Williamson, and he used to say, "Douglas, we don't focus on problems, we focus on solutions." And he's right! I'm going to focus on God. So where are you today? Do you feel weighed down? Do you feel so deep in a hole that you can't see out? Take a deep breath, make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your favorite jelly, and sit down and enjoy it. And while your taste buds are rejoicing with hallelujahs, may you take a time to rejoice with them to God for creating such a wonderful taste. And may you rejoice in the fact that we can have faith in God, because he's got it under control.