Christian Living

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Maybe Not…
© 2008

by


Stephen A. Peterson


Jan Monaghan was a 25 year old woman widowed by the death of her husband in a car accident. While driving her three children to Wal-Mart to purchase groceries, the engine burst into flames leaving Jan without transportation. Jan’s neighbors said: “Poor Jan! Her husband now her car. It’s just evil visiting her all around.”

Jan responded: “Maybe not.” She merely said a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving, gathered her children, walked the rest of the way to Wal-Mart, made her purchases then called a cab to take them home. Word quickly spread in the Seminole community regarding Jan’s positive attitude such that members of the Chamber of Commerce pooled their charity funds enough to purchase a brand new car for her.

When Jan’s neighbors saw her park the brand new car in hr driveway, their reaction was: “My, my how fortunate Jan is to have a brand new car with the most modern devices in it.”

Jan simply said: “Maybe not.” She then gave thanks to God.

Within a day after Jan was given the key to her car, someone stole the car. Her neighbors shook their heads saying: “Every time Jan gets a break in life something evil and bad happens to her. Poor Jan! What a pity! What a bad break!”

Jan said: “Maybe not.” She then gave thanks to God.

Eventually, the FBI found Jan’s car in San Antonio, Texas and returned the vehicle to her without so much as a scratch. “How fortunate Jan is! She got her beautiful new car back without any damage to it! Great!”

Jan said: “Maybe not.” She then gave thanks to God.

Months passed and the Christmas season came to Seminole, Oklahoma. While shopping in nearby Shawnee, Jan’s five year old son accidentally slammed the car door on his little sister’s hand breaking her little wrist. The neighbors said: “How unfortunate this is for Jan, her son and her baby daughter. If I were Jan, I’d curse God and be done with Him. All God has done is to bring evil down on that good woman and her family.”

Jan merely said: “Maybe not.” She then gave thanks to God.

On January 3rd, the landlord knocked on Jan’s door to collect her past due rent. When he saw Jan’s injured daughter and how tenderly she cared for her child, he entered her into the mother of the year contest and allowed her an additional two weeks to pay her rent. Within sixty days of his submission, Jan was named national mother of the year. Jan received prizes that included a new furnished house, a new car and cash in the amount of 3.5 million dollars. Her neighbors responded: “Jan deserves it! What a fine woman! What a fortunate woman!”

Jan smiled and said in a humble and low tone of voice: “Maybe not.” She then gave thanks to God.

Oh, how misguided many in the human family are! Many, to include Christians, view things and good times as more valuable than their relationship with God. In fact, too many worship things and would die for them rather than die for Christ. Said people view any tension, stress and difficulties as evil, a lack of material things as misfortune and, therefore, as punishment from God. Many times what appears to be setbacks, difficulties and misfortunes are test from God Himself to challenge our faith and belief in Him.

Sad to say many of we who call ourselves Christians have one alright—our possessions. However, Jan, like Job, refused to curse her Lord, even when she suffered loss, hardships and plenty. In this life, it is very difficult to praise God when our bodies, minds and souls are in excruciating pain. All Christians especially should remember Christ’s life. Even at the moment of His birth, He suffered pain, hardship and rejection. He was tortured, humiliated and suffered beyond what anyone will ever know or understand. Yet He forgave and gave thanks to God.

So the next time, something supposedly bad or evil happens to you do not do as the atheists, agnostics and non-believers do—curse God and leave His care. Rather, thank God for your lesson(s)/examination(s) and hope and pray that one day you will understand why you received your test no matter how challenging it or they may be.

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