Playing the Hand You're Dealt

      By Fern Horst

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (II Corinthians 12:9)

Recently Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, made this statement: "President Bush always says that you never know what sort of hand you're going to be dealt with, and sometimes you're dealt a hand that you didn't expect and that you don't want to play, but that you have to play it."

He was referring to Tony Snow, former Press Secretary, who lost his battle with cancer. Tony was known as a positive, thoughtful, upbeat person who once referred to cancer as a life and death battle, but that he wanted to focus on the living part. From the testimonies of those who knew him, he did indeed focus on living, and he did that well, often reaching out to others who were also struggling with life's difficulties. He was a man who had put his faith in Jesus Christ, and there's no doubt that it was God who enabled him to bear his cross with a graciousness that inspired many.

But it's not just Tony Snow who was dealt a hand he would rather not play. Many a man and woman reading this devotional are also needing to forge ahead with something in life they had not planned, and did not want. You may be battling an illness like Tony, or enduring a good-paying but hated job you can't afford to give up. You may be a never-married man or woman, way past the time in life you thought you'd be married with a family. Your spouse may have passed away years before you expected, and you find yourself longing for their companionship. You may be divorced and dealing with all the heartache it brings - certainly not something that anyone wishes for. You may be parenting alone, and wanting someone to share that load.

Some believe that the hand we are dealt has been directly ordered by God. Others believe that because of evil and sin in the world, there are many things that enter our lives that are not of His specific choosing, but that He allows them. Whatever your theology, the most important thing is this: God's grace is sufficient for whatever is in your life that is not of your choosing. He has a purpose for you, and He will give you all that you need to fulfill that purpose.

Our goal is that when the day comes that our souls are freed from our bodies, we will stand before our Lord and Saviour and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:23). No matter our circumstances in life, God has given us all that we need to be faithful and to hear those words from Him.

Ask God for His help to play the hand you've been dealt with graciousness and with purpose. Ask Him for joy in your heart, no matter what that hand is. And then take some time to encourage someone else who is struggling with playing their own hand well. God meant for us to help each other, and in this game called Life, we're allowed to show each other the cards in our hands! Just be sure not to focus on the positive aspects of their hand, and the negative of yours. The purpose of sharing is not to compare, but to encourage and help.

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (II Peter 1:2-3)

© 2008 Fern Horst

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