Why Problem-free Barbie wouldn't make a good BFF

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." -2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV



Problem-free Barbie...I know someone who wants to be friends with you. Yes, you! Exciting, right? She is great. Smart, beautiful, funny, popular. You will love her. Well....there is one tiny thing wrong with her: the fact that there is nothing wrong with her. She and her husband never engage in World War III over dirty laundry  covering the floor or the toilet seat lid being left up. Her children would not dream of disobeying her instruction, let alone turn into a pile of snot, tears, and screams over a bag of Cheetos in the middle of Wal-Mart. Struggles dealing with selecting carrot sticks over Triple Fudge Cake with a scoop of ice cream on the side do not exist in her world; healthy choices come naturally to her. Her checkbook balance is always exceedingly larger than the small stack of neatly piled bills on her kitchen counter.


...with matching daughter and accessories 
For you younger readers, she has a daughter that would love to hang out with you, too. The only thing is, she is just like her mom. Her friends would not dream about tweeting about her being that "someone" that drives them crazy, makes them sick, is the biggest hypocrite they have ever known, you get my drift. She could have any guy she wants, and the one she has is just as gorgeous as she is, never pressures her to go anywhere she does not desire to, agrees with her every word, and never ignores her calls/texts because he is watching "the" football game or playing "Call of Duty". She never misses a three-pointer in basketball games, forgets to study for a quiz, or runs out of gas a mile from the nearest gas station. Oh, and she and her parents always see eye to eye on everything, her super-small sized Buckle jeans are never too tight, and she has yet to see a pimple appear on her face just before picture day.

No, thanks..I'll pass
So, what do you think? When is a good time for them to come over? I'm sorry, did I just hear you scream, "NEVER!!!" at the screen? Yeah, I thought so. Same here. Your ideas about people like that would most likely live in the realm of: A) "She is fake and hiding something...there's probably a body or two in her trunk and a plenty of skeletons in her closet behind those Buckle jeans."  B) "I don't want to be friends with her. My imperfect self would soon become the first and biggest problem she's ever had!" C) "That chick and I would not have one thing in common. She doesn't have one problem, and many days, I have as many as a kid with chicken pox has spots." D) All of the above. Before we move forward, allow me to put your mind at ease with the following statement: this post is not a rant on nutritious food selections, wealthy folks, or Buckle jeans. Personally, I admire the steadfastly healthy, would love to be rich, and, in my mind, Buckle jeans are two hundred and one kinds of fabulous. Nor am I asserting that the above mentioned scenarios are the greatest problems in our world. The point that I am bordering on taking too long to make is that no one wants a BFF that does not know what it means to go through the fire of life's problems, both seemingly big and small, and come out with your split ends, eyelashes, and heart singed. And no one would dare seek out a person like that to minister to them.

From hurt to healing 
For years, I have heard that oftentimes a person's ministry arises from the pain that God has walked with them through and their mistakes that God has redeemed for His good. As I grow older and gain that wonderful-to-possess-but-often-agonizing-to-obtain quality known as "life experience", I agree more and more. Our hurt can truly become a huge part of another's healing. Take a moment to soak in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV): "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." God lavishes Himself upon us in times of intense pain, certainly because He loves us, but also that, we will, in turn, pour His love, comfort, and strength into the hearts of those around us struggling to beat through a similar pain. Who is better qualified to counsel a rape victim than another who endured the same horrific experience only to find hope and healing in our Savior? Who could better understand a sister in Christ facing the betrayal of a so-called friend than another who has pulled that same proverbial knife from her back and found healing in the Great Physician? And here's an even deeper one for us to ponder: who has a better awareness of the daily death to self involved in serving God than the sinless One who prayed "...yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42) before taking the sin of the world upon His shoulders and dying on a cross that we sinners might live eternally (reference 1 Peter 2:24)? That's right. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that not only do we have sisters in Christ who have faced problems and trials as we do, but a Savior who has as well: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." 

I'd like a drive-thru deliverance with a side of fries, please...
So, Mrs. Desert Rose, are you telling us that you rejoice when people cause you to think you are going bald from pulling your hair out over them? That you jump for joy when severe illness strikes your family? That you host a party every time your bills seem like mountains compared to your molehill budget? No, sweet sisters, I am not. God's Word does state in Romans 5:3-4: "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." But I know in my life, it is rarely easy to glory during the suffering. My flesh would much rather skip the suffering and pick up some perseverance, character, and hope in the drive-thru line at McDonald's along with a chocolate shake and an order of fries. It does not work that way, though. I can honestly assert, however, that the trials in my life, painful and non-joyous though they were/are, have largely assisted me in the ongoing process of maturing in Christ, sculpted me into a servant better fit for His service, and given me loads upon loads more sympathy for others facing trouble of any kind. I needed it. Sure as glory did not want it...desired a "drive-thru deliverance" with all my fleshly heart...but needed it. Even if only because someone else would need the lesson I learned from it all. I do not pretend to have a clue why you or I have both the minor annoyances and major heartbreaks that we do in this life, but I do believe whole-heartedly that God can and will use our pain for good and for His glory. 

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that our pain never goes unnoticed, unredeemed, or unused by You. Not only do You walk with us through the fire, but You graciously allow us to come out on the other side and help pull others through. Let us never forget what a blessing and honor it is to use our pain for others' healing and Your glory. Forgive us for too often repeatedly asking, "God, why did I go through that?" Instead, help us to ask, "God, who is going through something similar to what I did, and how can I help them in Your name?" Thank you, Jesus, for descending from glory, walking our sod, facing our trials, remaining perfect in spite of them, and taking on all of our filthy imperfections on an old rugged cross to save us all.  Every time we think our hill to steep to climb, our cross too heavy to bear, remind us of Calvary, of Your sacrifice, Your love, and Your power that we are filled with because of it. God, life so often drags us down. Thank You for lifting us up and sending fellow Christians to do the same. May we always be obedient to do so for others. In Jesus' name, Amen!