Between Some math and a hard place – guest post by Rhonda Rhea When we feel stuck- guest post by
I’ve experienced long, uncomfortable seasons where I legitimately felt unsure regarding how God was leading me. But I’ve also fed my inner angst wrestling with myself and cloaking my hesitation in demands for one confirmation after another. I’ve found, while God hasn’t yet revealed that ten-year plan I’ve repeatedly asked Him for, He has always revealed where I’m to step today. Speaker and rom-com author Rhonda Rhea has a word for that–and shares the anecdote.
When We Feel Stuck (AKA, Between Math and a Hard Place)
by Rhonda Rhea
When I was in junior high, anytime I felt like I needed a good cry, I’d just ask my dad to help me with my math.
I’d like to say something about the “sums of the fathers” right here, but any way you pun it, it was actually all me. Even in high school, I remember going up to my algebra teacher’s desk saying, “Mr. Showalter, I’m stuck on number 5.” At which point he would do the problem for me with a smile. Mind you, I was also stuck on numbers one through four, but I didn’t want to overwhelm the man.
From early on, I understood that there was a reason they were called math problems. The stages of grief over math ineptitude went something like this: 1) Denial. 2) Trying to bargain—but let’s face it, bargaining can require math, so… 4) Realizing there was probably a missing step. What number are we on again? and 7) I really want a sandwich.
There was always something I would rather do than math problems. And those somethings were big-time distractions. I wish I’d thought to call them “weapons of math disruption” but I was probably too distracted. Sometimes I had a choice between picking up that math book and finding myself stuck on number 5, or instead … sandwich.
Ever feel a little stuck? Sometimes it’s about studying a problem long enough to decipher what to do next. It seems like it’s even more often that we’re stuck because we know what we’re supposed to do next, but we’ve lost count and allowed someone or something to move us in the opposite direction. Stuck.
God’s chosen people have a recorded history of more than a few instances of that “stuck-ness.” Many of their rock-and-a-hard-place kinds of experiences were a result of not being obedient to what the Lord had commanded them to do. One little distraction, then one little compromise that turned into another, that turned into another, and—well, you get the math. One compromise after another turns into … stuck.
Compromise is trading God’s will for us for something that our flesh wants instead. Our sin nature often loves to adjust the equation, trying to force God’s plan to fit our own selfish desires. Talk about not adding up. It’s just plain sin.
Our call is to obey Him. When we choose to follow distractions of compromise, we’re denying His grace. Paul said, “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.” Titus 2:11-14 (HCSB)*.
How can a list of instructions like this come from God’s grace? Grace is undeserved favor—there’s nothing we can do to earn God’s love and salvation. So why all the directives in how we should walk with Him?
They are given to us to keep us on a healthy path, focused on the author of our salvation. The same grace that saved us? It’s that very grace that trains us to say no to compromise. No to sin. Yes to cleansing. Yes to good works. Choosing to live in light of God’s precious gift of grace.
Training in refusing to compromise is an integral part of living well (even though “integral” sounds a little “math-y!”)
Maybe this is all a good reminder that the infinite God who created numbers and who fits them together in all kinds of creative ways uses math to show us Himself. Even me.
And I can honestly say that I use math all the time as a writer. For material.
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:13b-14 NASB*
Get to Know Rhonda Rhea:
Rhonda Rhea is an award-winning humor columnist for great magazines such as HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway, and many more. She is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books, including the hilarious Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated co-authored with her daughter, Kaley Rhea. She is a publishing consultant and has been a TV and radio regular for many years. Rhonda and her pastor/husband live near St. Louis where she says you can usually find her drinking entirely too much coffee and laughing entirely too loudly with her big and still-growing family. You can read more from Rhonda on her website or Facebook page.
About Her and Her Daughter’s Romantic Comedy, Off-Script and Over Caffeinated:
If there’s one thing Harlow Cruise hates more than those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies, it’s the fact that she loves those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies. She loves them angrily. With popcorn. Pop-scorn?
As if she doesn’t get enough drama in her day-to-day–directing a ministry-minded community theatre that cranks out three shows a month and trying to keep up with her aspiring screenwriter bestie, Teagan, a self-described “dramagician.”
When the Heartcast Channel Movie division announces they’ll briefly be allowing submissions for new, original Christmas movies, Teagan is convinced this is her time. Roped into workshopping scenes from Teagan’s in-progress spec script, Harlow finds herself paired with an even more reluctant co-star. Jack Bentley might have the most Heartcast Original Movie name on the planet, but he is anything but formulaic.
How different can two people be? It’s fine. Made-for-TV plot-points do NOT a romance make. Right? Right?
Grab a copy HERE.
*Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used with permission by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
*“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
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