If you go to any arcade, you will likely find a Whac-A-Mole game. It’s a high-energy activity where little moles randomly pop up and your job is to hit them. As soon as one disappears, two or three more pop up in its place. You continue along until all the moles have been “whacked.”

I recall playing this game a lot when my children were little. It was fun to see their faces when they hit the mole only to find out another was coming in its place within seconds.

The game sounds a lot like life these days, doesn’t it? As soon as we whack one mole, another pops up. We may find ourselves in a continual cycle of “mole management” with no end in sight. It can be exhausting, yes?

While we may not be able to control the moles in our lives, we do have control over how we handle them – before, during, and after their arrival.

The other day, my daughter and I were watching “Soul Surfer.” The movie is about Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who was attacked by a shark and lost her arm. My daughter didn’t understand why God let this happen to her. What was the purpose of this major mole in this young woman’s life.

I explained that I didn’t know the full ‘why’ behind it, but by the end of the movie, this event turned into a powerful testimony of God’s grace, healing, and love. I told my daughter that faith in God doesn’t equate to a trouble-free life. What it does is give you the strength to continue to whack the moles life throws at you and be a winner.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

It is worth noting that Jesus never said, “Follow me and your life will be a bed of roses.” No. We live in a broken world and bad things happen. Our job is not to puzzle over the “why’s” but rather to look for what the trial can teach us or what it might mean to others going through a similar situation.

There’s always a purpose to our pain.

Who better to comfort someone who’s going through a divorce, than someone who’s been through one? Or who is better qualified to speak to someone who just lost their job than someone who’s been in that situation?

No one knows loss, betrayal, heartache, and even hatred better than Jesus. When He walked the earth, He experienced all of this and so much more. He knows exactly how we feel when the moles of life want to steal our joy (John 10:10).

Jesus wants us to turn to Him continually, not just when the moles pop up. And guess what? When we spend time with Him every day, we are better equipped to handle whatever mole comes our way and emerge victorious.

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37 NKJV)

Let’s make God more than our crisis manager. Let’s make Him our life manager. Then watch as those moles run for cover!