When Life Pulls The Chair Out From Under You

A guest post by Melanie Redd | edited by Nicki Schroeder

I remember as if it was yesterday. It happened almost daily. Someone would come back to class after a bathroom break, prepare to sit in their yellow plastic chair and pull up to their desk, begin to sit down and then the unexpected happened.

No time to prepare.
Without warning.

One minute they would be sitting down, the next minute landing abruptly on the floor with a thud. It was the favorite prank of my 8th-grade class after lunch. The daily chair pulling prank was almost expected. No one was immune.

Life is filled with chairs being pulled out from under us!

Your “chairs” may not look like one of the old school chairs we had back in middle school. But, all of us have experienced the surprising twists and turns and “pranks” of this life. No one escapes the unsuspected events and practical jokes of life.

Just this week, I’ve had friends share some of the abrupt “pranks” of life, which have left them sprawled out on the floor in amazement. One friend received word of cancer. Another was overwhelmed by the loss of air conditioning and the large repair bill that came with it. A family is dealing with the stinging betrayal of their young adult child. Still another is dealing with an unwanted and extremely painful divorce.

What do we do when one of life’s chairs gets pulled out from underneath us?

In the 8th grade, we would get up as quickly as possible, grab that chair, sit down and try to pretend it never happened. We’d take deep breaths and hope that our red, blushing faces would regain their normal color as quickly as possible.

Some of us still do that today as adults. We get up, move on, pretend that a hurt didn’t just happen and try to go back to normal life as quickly as possible.

But what if, instead, we tried a different approach – one I wish I had known as an 8th grader.

8 Tools To Navigate The Twists Of Life

1. Admit your hurts! Honest admission starts the process of healing.
2. Take stock of the fallout. Look around and realize what just happened.
3. Address the situation calmly and with honesty. Speak worlds of truth.
4. Give the hurt and embarrassment over to the Lord.
5. Remember God loves you and deeply cares about the pain you are feeling right now.
6. Open the Bible and read about others who have been harmed, there are so many!
7. Talk about your hurts with the Lord in prayer.
8. Handle future pranks with more wisdom.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Life is messy!

It’s filled with crazy events, unexpected news, unplanned accidents and untimely pranks. The next time a chair is pulled out from underneath, will you be ready to handle it better than an 8th grader? I pray that you will respond well and allow God to use these things in your life for your good and His glory!

I want to invite you to share your thoughts below or on Showered In Grace's Facebook page!

– Melanie Redd

Melanie is a Christian blogger, motivational speaker, author and social media marketing consultant in Memphis, TN.  She is also the founder of Ministry of Hope, an organization designed to inspire you in life and ministry. Melanie is married to Randy and mom to two awesome college students. God’s grace never ceases to amaze her. Visit her at www.melanieredd.com.