It's been a long one...

Ever have one of those weeks where you wish you could just hit fast forward and skip to the next? This week has been one of those for me. First, it's Spring Break. For 99% of you, that doesn't mean jack, but when you're a student pastor it means an agonizing week of prayer for the students you lead. It hasn't been too long for me to forget the days I wasted shattering my standards for the approval of people I'd never see again, or using my license to sin because, "Hey man, It's Spring Break!" Ugh, it makes me sick to think about. God protect those who choose to forget you this week.

Second, I've got an incredible opportunity to speak at a student retreat this weekend. It's an honor to be asked, but when you've never really been a "featured speaker" it makes for an incredible week of nerves, writing, erasing, starting over, and self-doubt. Can God really use me like this? I guess it's my Moses-complex coming out.

Then there's this laundry list of things I've got to finish for school. Interviews, papers, and hours learning verb stems for Hebrew--ouch! There's work at the house to do. I need time with Sara Beth. There's youth nights, camps, and church to plan for. Wow, I need more hours this week.

I share this not so you pity me--but I will accept it at least for this week--but to share with you that these weeks are common to us all. Your fast-forwarding weeks might not entail spending hours worrying about teenagers, studying Hebrew, or preparing to speak four times, but it does include stress, jobs, worry, and fear. But as I've learned this week, if I fast forward through the tough weeks, I miss God at work. I miss Him being strong in my weakness. I risk staying self-sufficient and proud. I miss him teaching me incredible truth. Psalm 18:35 says, "You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great." My victory, my support, and my help comes from God Himself. It's why I relish a week like this and choose not to fast-forward to the next.