It's just a test

It's amazing how God uses the people we interact with everyday to test our faith on various levels. Sometimes we don't know how God intends to use different people during different seasons in our lives, but the closer we get to Him the more He slowly reveals things to us.

Here's a perfect example:

One day this week a friend or mine(we'll call her Sue) was explaining an uncomfortable situation she was in with one of her graduate-school professors. According to Sue, her professor spoke to her in an unpleasant manner after Sue explained some difficulties she was having with an assignment.

Sue, who is a Christian, remained calm, but sent an e-mail to her professor and advisor after class to express her discomfort with the situation. Bottom line: Sue wanted an apology, and she was taking the necessary steps to get it.

I felt bad for Sue, but, not knowing the professor's side (she could have had a bad day or been dealing with rough times in her personal life - not that it makes it right, but, I'm just saying) or having been there myself to witness it, my only advice to Sue was to remain calm and let God handle the professor.

Having dealt with (and continuing to deal with) the spirit of revenge, I told Sue that if she didn't get the apology that she wanted, just give the situation to God and let that be that. (It's not always the easiest thing to do, but necessary.)

Then, I shared with Sue the message I heard in church Sunday morning. It was about love and how a huge part of loving (as God loves) is to forgive other regardless of...whatever!

Before I could even finish my sentence, Sue began to tell me about a dream she recently had. She said that in her dream, she was reading an e-mail from her professor, but she could only read the bottom, which read: "This is the season for forgiveness."

"Yup, I hear you, Lord!" she said.

She realized that what I said to her was simply confirmation of what God had been revealing to her for the last few days.

Needless to say, Sue didn't get the apology she wanted (funny how it always works that way when God is trying to teach you something). But even in that, God is continuing to reveal to her what true forgiveness (love) is all about. I'm just glad she's taking notice to God's Word and work in her life.