This summer a group of yellow jackets (bees) found some real estate space in a small opening under our breezeway foundation. As the summer grew tired and began to slide into the arms of fall this bee colony became a real problem. We could not use the breezeway door and had to use an alternate entry.

At some point I became frustrated with the whole mess and decided to put down a plastic bee trap next to their egress. I stuffed rags around the trap to shorten their flight path thinking they would use the opening in the trap and be eliminated for good.

This worked okay for a while until one night Mr. Skunk decided to pull out the rags and roll the trap out of their path. Now my predicament was to put everything back the way it was with a long stick and not get noticed.

What I needed to do was to do my rearranging in the evening when bee activity is nil. I didn’t! I was very frustrated and impatient and began my job in the warm direct sun and well you know, I got stung. Ouch!

Some might say; “why does God allow bad things to happen to ‘good’ people?” He could strike the bee with poor vision or even with a heart attack before he could sting!

The answer to this simple situation can apply to life’s more complex situations and is something to consider when we feel God is not being fair.

Psalm 94:12-13 NV

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.

I was out-of-order by not following God’s discipline of patience and the sting woke me up to my disobedience. And if I never forget this lesson the sting was well worth the pain.

If you think of angry words expressed to another due to impatience and pride with the resultant pain and trouble of hostile words returned in rebuttal you can see how easily we can fall into pain/trouble as ‘good’ people.

My point here is that God uses these ‘ouch’ things in life to keep us on track and to inspire our continual relationship with Him. God loves you so much His only interest is for your own good!

So you can be fully confident in His protection and rescue throughout your life. Seriously. Stop and think of all the things God has already saved you from and you will see what I mean.

Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, [growing in Christ] you will receive what he has promised.

Note [growing in Christ] added as my commentary.

Love you and bee careful and be a blessing

Brother Walt

Walt Irwin
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