James 1:12New International Version (NIV)
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
We have all had those moments of ‘It’s not fair!’ This past week I had one of those moments. I do a radio show every week on our local radio station and I usually only do teachings on it. I will keep reminding myself of that more.
There was this one candidate who was running for a local office and was struggling in knowing what to do next. So this person called me and shared the frustration. In a moment without thinking it through, I said that I would interview this person on my radio program and talk about faith and how faith helped this person. This brought on a chain of unexpected events.
Two weeks later after this radio interview, I was called by the station manager explaining to me that what I had done could not be done. It got the radio station crossways with the other candidates. The consequences could cause my radio spot to come to an end.
In my mind, I ranted, “It’s not fair!” It was on of these dirt kicking moments. I was angry. I thought I had done a good thing, so I thought.
Later that day, I spoke to my son about it. He stated that I needed to humble myself and apologize.
The next day, I had a meeting with the station’s operations manager. I walked in and owned the mistake. I humbled myself and was ready to pay the consequences. The manager said, “Mike, we like your show and what it brings to our listeners. I accept your apology. What I need is for your willingness to have another candidate on your show, and things will be smoothed over.”
Wow! I was thankful for the opportunity to do this and to keep my spot on the station. I humbled myself, and Jesus gets the glory. What I learned was that life is not always fair. It is how we act in it that changes us. Men, as a good friend always tells me when those situations happen, “Onward and upward. Be a man of character.”
Strength and Courage
Michael
