It's Just One More Thing

The other day, a friend mentioned a new, unwanted challenge that recently showed up in her life. I listened to the details, and, after being sympathetic to her plight, me being me, I offered some logical and encouraging responses. After hearing me out, she paused and then said, “yeah, but it’s just one more thing”. At first her reply struck me funny. It was obvious that she had no choice but to agree with my responses. She realized they were logical, and she knew that any attempt to argue against them would be futile. At second thought however, her response spoke deeply to me, and, in truth, stomped heavily on my toes.

Years ago, while working as a junior computer consultant, I was tasked with an extensive inventory project. Assigned to consult with the school district of Philadelphia, I had to take a detailed inventory of their facilities department so my company could implement new software to help manage their cost and materials. Even today, some twenty years later, I remember what it was like to sit in that massive stockroom and count pieces with the crew.

Five-gallon buckets lined shelf after shelf, each one filled with individual nuts and bolts. There was no quick way to accomplish the task, so we counted … one by one … we counted and counted. Do you know how long it takes to count 4,367 half-inch hex bolts? Do you know how daunting it is to count half-inch hex bolts knowing that when you’re finally finished, you need to move on to counting the three-quarter inch, and then the one-inch hex bolts and so on? I remember that being one of the longest weeks of my life, as I took inventory of one more thing after the next. It was equal parts (pun intended) physically, mentally, and yes, even emotionally exhausting.  

So, having been through that experience, I have to wonder why I presently I put myself through it when it comes to my life? I mean, “It’s just one more thing.” How often do I think that very thought when something challenging arises, or when another undesirable item gets added to my plate of life? Why do I start thinking about all the difficult, bad, and less than enjoyable things that have occurred in a certain tyme frame and force myself to take a detailed inventory of them? How is it that I can so quickly recall, recite, and recycle those troublesome moments? Why do I insist on counting and lamenting my woes?

The answer is, because the pesky devil knows he can use it to bring me down and keep me occupied for a long while…making me count my half-inch hex bolts instead of doing the things God wants me to do. Knowing that answer then begs the questions:

        Why do I let him do that to me?
        Why do I still have those hex bolts?
        Didn’t God use those parts when He fixed what was wrong?
        Why do I remember past struggles as if they didn’t get resolved
        or as if God didn’t get me through them?

I really don’t have an answer to those questions. Perhaps it’s how my brain was trained to react and respond. Perhaps it’s because it’s an easy trap in which to fall.  Or perhaps, and most likely, it’s because I do not mindfully guard my thoughts.

That - “it’s just one more thing” - conversation with my friend the other day reminded me of that saying, “Don’t tell God how great your problems are, tell your problems how great your God is”! That’s not to say that God doesn’t want to hear about our struggles. He does, but He also wants us to bring our faith in Him with us to the conversation. So why don’t I do that? Why, when a challenge arises, don’t I say, “it’s just one more thing that God will get me through”? Why don’t I start recalling, reciting and recycling all the great things God has done instead of all the bad things the devil caused? I really wish I knew!

What I do know is my mind is a much better place when I guard my focus and am mindful of my thoughts. When I remember just Who my God is, and that He has my best interests in His heart of hearts, I can stop counting my hex bolts and start counting on Him.  When I stop fixating on what’s happening to me and start talking about what God has already done for me, I am able to clearly see His willingness and ability to help me. That doesn’t mean that challenges won’t come along, but it absolutely means that when “just one more thing” happens, He will be there with me and for me, just like He always has been.

“Spoiler alert” … Life isn’t easy. What’s easy is taking an inventory of things we don’t have and getting on the wrong train of thought. Why is it so easy? Because the tickets are free, a train is always available. Have you been on that train lately? You’re not alone. We all have the potential to succumb to the enemy’s lies and temptation to board the wrong train, but we don’t have to live up to it! We can change trains, mid trip! All we need to do is start counting our blessings and give God the glory for the great things He has already done. Nothing will end our trip on the enemy’s train faster than focusing on God’s greatness, ability and truth.

Truth be told, none of us have made it to our current point in life on our own. We might make it more difficult for God to be there for us, but He has been there every step of the way, keeping us safe and helping us when we ask Him. So really, to think that God would bring us this far just to give up on us now is not logical. The enemy though, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, will use our own thoughts to fool us and rob us of God’s peace and joy if we’re not careful. So, if challenges have us thinking, “it’s just one more thing”, let’s be sure to board the right train. Let’s take an inventory of our blessings and rejoice that “It’s just one more thing … that God will get us through!” … no ifs, ands or bolts about it!