Way back when I was in high school, I was backpacking with my Scout troop in the mountains of New Mexico. One evening after dark, we were gathered hungrily around the campfire waiting with tin plates and forks in hand for a peach cobbler to finish baking in the Dutch oven.  The aroma was mouth-watering--I had been looking forward to this all day. We shined our flashlights on the pot as my buddy reached out with pliers to remove the lid, but he paused inexplicably. We swiveled our lights his way, and a huge black shape appeared beside him. We saw beady eyes, a red tongue, and a mouthful of large, white teeth. Someone stuttered, "It's a bbb.. bear!  Everything in our hands went flying up into the night sky, and there ensued a 360-degree panicked exodus from the fire circle. I must've run 100 yards with no memory of my feet touching the ground, but I do remember hearing the tinkling sound of plates and forks raining down behind me.
    At some point my fear was replaced by irritation. That bear was ruining the best part of my day! I circled back to the fire (albeit more carefully than I'd left) to see what I might do about it. I was just in time to see the bear swat the Dutch oven--spilling the cobbler on the fire. He stuck his nose in the resultant mess and got burned for his trouble. Backing away, wagging his head and huffing with indignation, he made off into the forest. I went to bed hungry and disgruntled.  
    Life can be like that night. We work and make our plans and, just when we're ready to enjoy the fruit of our labors, a big black bear steps into the picture and ruins everything. The bear may take the form of a broken-down car, an unfaithful friend, a diagnosis of cancer, or an accident that snatches a loved one out of our life. The result may be frustration, fear, disappointment, and bitterness. It makes all the difference in the world, however, if we live under the omnipotent hand of a God who loves us and truly cares about our disappointments and grief. Such a God is able to strengthen us, and to turn even our deepest heartache and the worst evil to his good purpose. The Apostle Peter believed this. On those occasions when I am finding it hard to believe, I like to read chapter seven in the Gospel of Luke. There I see Jesus do the mighty works Peter witnessed, and I hear the grace-filled words that Peter heard, and I find my trust renewed.

Pastor Charlie Scott
c. 2005