Living On Borrowed Time

I was in town one day and saw a familiar face. I waved and greeted her. I asked her how she was doing. She responded with a heavy sigh and closed  eyelids, “I’m just living on borrowed time.” I just stared at her. I wanted to laugh, but I held it back. There was nothing wrong with her at all. That was simply how she responded to life in general. She reminded me of Mariah Popham in “Summer Magic,” where she says, “Now, I like to believe in a cloud that’s a first-class cloud. Thick and black clean and through…. I always expect the worst, and I ain’t ever been disappointed.” There could not be a better description that fit this lady. It would be easy to overlook one rather important detail in my encounter. Her daughter was standing right beside her, listening to how her mother responded to life. Unbeknownst to her, her mother was teaching her how to speak.

I read a wonderful story in Judges that clarifies my point so well. Judges 12:6 says, “They would say to him, say “Shibboleth,” and he would say “Shiboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right…” In short, the Gildeadites used the pronunciation of this word to recognize fleeing Ephraimites. The Ephraimites had a different dialect when pronouncing this word. They said it with a soft “s” sound instead of a stronger “sh” sound. Because of this, their speech would give them away, and Israel could recognize their enemy.

When we speak, it doesn’t take long for others to recognize what we believe. Faith is always tested in the soil of uncertainty. Our response determines the outcome. Faith is an inward confidence and assurance. Faith will take God at His word when circumstances seem to deny the truth. I love what my husband says during football season when an Alabama player makes a touchdown, and he attempts a showy performance. He just shakes his head and says, “Act like you have been here before.” Fear will react, as if it has never seen a problem. Faith, on the other hand, will act like it has been here before.

There is an interesting fact about an empty plastic water bottle in an airplane. Upon the airplane’s dissension, it will crush because of the change in the cabin pressure. However, a full plastic water bottle will not crush under the change in pressure but remain the same. Is it possible that our actions resemble that of a water bottle? Do we crush under pressure and react out of fear? Or does the faith that is on the inside of us keep us from crushing under the pressure?

Every time Eva sees a rainbow, she hollers out, “Look!” “It’s God’s promise!” Not only does she see hope, but she also speaks hope. Her speech gives her away. It’s as if she never saw the storm that produced the rainbow. Chuck and I do not teach Eva to deny the rain, but simply to believe the promise attached to the rain. God said there would be trouble, but in Psalms 91, He promised that He would be with us as we GO THROUGH the trouble.

Our Nation is going through a storm. There is no denying that. Let’s trust in God’s promises. No longer looking at the rain, but rather, looking for the rainbow.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8

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