October 10, 2024
The struggle was real on Sunday morning.
It was my turn to teach at the jail. We have been going to a prison or jail every week since 2006. It was not a new place or crowd. Teaching is one of my favorite things! Yet butterflies skittered in my stomach. I had read the Bible verses again and again. In truth I was ready, still I was uneasy.
Working on a new-to-me Mac, everything was hard. Every button was different, each task required extra steps. This old dog doesn’t want to learn new tricks but learn I must. The Lord helped me prepare the Bible verse sheet and some points to print out.
At 6:30 a.m. I headed to the church to print the verses.
Technology is not my enemy. But it feels like it sometimes. I could do everything but make coffee on my 1992 version of Print Shop Deluxe. That was a long time ago. Times and programs changed. The internet arrived on the scene. My sister told me recently that we (Baby Boomers) are “immigrants” to technology while those younger than us are “natives.” Makes total sense.
I was trying to print Bible verses on my new-to-me Mac so I could jet to the jail for Bible study with the female inmates at 7 a.m. Nothing worked. I pushed the print button again and again, to no avail. I clicked and prayed, clicked and prayed.
Working up some tears, “I’m so over this!” I wailed to no one and searched to find a Bible to copy the verses straight from the page.
In my search, I remembered I wasn’t connected to the internet. That could make a difference. Hopeful, I hurried back to the Mac to connect. I found the password in my jail ministry drawer. Praying again, I clicked PRINT. And. It. Worked.
Now I was late for jail.
Exiting the church parking lot, my phone rang. “Are you on your way?” my beloved asked. “Yes!” I exclaimed. “I am teaching and could throw up! Please pray for me.”
“You will do fine,” he assured me, “I will pray.”
Pulling into the jail parking lot on two wheels, we jumped out of our cars and headed to the door. Every minute is precious. A minute late is a minute wasted.
The guards let us in. The girls came over from their cells. Bible verse papers were passed out.
That’s when I realized I had left my notes somewhere else. Were they at the church? Or in my car? It was too late to turn back so we forged ahead. After all, the Lord had kindly provided the printed Bible verses.
We unpacked the story of Ruth, discussing the seasons of her life. All of it pointing to trusting in God even when you can’t see how He is working.
At the end of the study, we went through the plan of salvation. Four girls prayed to accept Christ. Praise the name of the Lord!
God is faithful. He is kind. He is good. Even when puzzle pieces are not falling easily together. When chaos and frustration swirl all around. When technology works or doesn’t or when it’s hard to understand. On days when you’re on the struggle bus.
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife and newspaper columnist. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
