Needle in a Haystack

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.
Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard
from me and saw me doing and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8b-9

"I’ve lost my wedding ring, I need a mask!"

He saw it come off, he watched as it dropped through the water to the bottom of the lake. He had even attempted to reach out and grab it on its way down, but to no avail. He dove to get it, but already, it had disappeared under the sand. He dove again and again to the bottom looking for his lost ring. The sun started to dip in the evening sky and most of the swimmers had quit for the day. The lifeguards had left their posts, he continued on. It had to be there!

Finally, it was time to say, “Enough." The ring was not to be found, and with the chill of the water, it could have become dangerous if he continued searching. He walked back in to shore with feelings of great disappointment, having lost his very new wedding ring. His bride greeted him with love and support. There was nothing more that could be done...the ring was gone. It was time to go home, get warm, have a good dinner and enjoy being together. He said it was like, “Looking for a needle in a haystack the size of Montana."

Why do things like this happen? In everything there is a lesson to be learned, character that can be built and thankfulness for what we have despite what we have lost. His wife said she would rather have her husband, than have something happen to him in the search for his lost ring.

God grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

The ring was lost, that could not be changed and it needed to be accepted. He had had the courage to give it his best shot in finding it, but there came a time when wisdom must prevail. When it was time to know the difference between perseverance and acceptance.

God never told us we would be without trials in this life, but He did promise us His peace through them. He has told us what to think about in Philippians Four. God knows we will have to patiently endure many things while we live in this world. He is not surprised by our trials, and we should not be either. "...the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around...looking for some victim to devour." God does not spare us from all tragedy, big or small, but what He will spare us from is the Devil devouring our lives in the trials.