Jen’s Gem: Count it all joy!
This week I was doubly blessed. On Monday, my new refrigerator was delivered. As I watched the old contraption being wheeled out of my condo, I did the happy dance. No more loud noises out of nowhere, no more frozen veggies, no more plastic containers collecting the dripping water inside.
The two strapping delivery guys brought in the new appliance and my mouth dropped. “It’s supposed to be white,” I said. They looked at the stainless steel machine, then over to my all white kitchen and remarked, “Yeah that would make sense.”
After a call to find out the cause of the mix up, they told me that the wrong model number was written down and I’d be hearing from the store shortly. They unpacked the refrigerator and told me I could keep it until the correct one arrived.
When they moved the old fridge out and I examined the floor, I discovered a bit of a smorgasbord. Blueberries that had rolled out of their container were present and accounted for. Remnants of unknown food items were found. The tile wall behind it was in dire need of a wipe down. (Don’t judge me. What’s under YOUR fridge! LOL!)
As I cleaned the wall, I noticed that it was hot to the touch. Burning hot actually. I texted my neighbors to see if they knew of any pipes in this location. Negatory. My next thought was that the outlet was mis-wired. The appliance guy thought it was the overhead lights reflecting on the white tile. A plausible, but shaky explanation. Stay tuned. Blessing #1.
Shortly after their departure, I received a call from the salesperson. He straightened the whole thing out and all was well in the world again. Plus, I got to have a stainless steel refrigerator – for a few days anyway. Blessing #2.
Bright and early Friday morning, its replacement arrived. I took this opportunity to touch the back wall to test my electrical outlet theory. Cool as a cucumber. I surmised that the rickety fridge was the culprit, putting off an excessive amount of heat in a condo that is already too hot.
You may be asking yourself, how was this annoying debacle a double blessing? First, I’ve always wanted stainless steel appliances. Yet, in my all-white galley kitchen, it just didn’t fit. I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.
The second blessing was discovering the source of the fire pit in my kitchen. My condo runs hot as the water pipes are under my floors. (Yeah, should’ve been disclosed to me before I purchased.) Now that the old refrigerator is gone, I may have some relief – at least in this room.
Here’s the takeaway. Sometimes great blessings are hidden in our challenges, if we are open to seeing them and we don’t get our feathers ruffled. I could’ve had a fit with the salesperson when he called to right the wrong. Instead, I literally laughed out loud. We both did actually. In the scheme of all that’s going on in the world, having the wrong refrigerator delivered is a minor hiccup.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
Yet sometimes we give our minor hiccups waaay too much attention. We focus on them incessantly trying to figure out their root cause. This only accomplishes one thing: it steals our joy. And we all know who wants to do that, right?
Every time we let the trials of the world steal our joy, the devil wins and we lose. We were not created to lose. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to be losers. Read the verse above again. What does it say about the kind of life Jesus died for us to have?
I’m glad that I experienced this appliance trial. My “try before I buy” lesson resulted in a double blessing. I love my new refrigerator and I love walking through my kitchen without sweat rolling down my neck. The trials and tribulations of this world are only going to get worse. How we handle them is up to each of us.
“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7 NKJV)
This week, when life smacks you in the face, I hope you will remember my refrigerator story and know that your Father in heaven wants to doubly bless you through it. Fluff your pillow and put it into His more than capable hands.
The devil wants to steal your joy. Don’t let him.