”I’ll play these…”

“We are all dealt a hand and we have to decide how to play it.” – Voltaire“

“It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.” This was a Quote by a man named Randy Pausch. He died of cancer a few years ago, but he said this quote in his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. There are five cards you are dealt in 5 card stud poker. We will look at each card this week.

The first card is chemistry. Each of us has a chemistry card and it is not because we know the periodic table of elements or we can conduct chemistry experiments without blowing the building up.

There are so many examples. People are born with bad eyesight because his or her parents had a deficiency in their eyes. People have diabetes, high cholesterol, flat feet, and are introverted. And some people are born Auburn fans…OK, I am kidding on that one. I am serious when I say that your chemistry helps make you unique. Chemistry is part of your custom design, and God planned them for his purpose and glory.

Have you struggled with the way the Lord made you in some way? Maybe you have physical traits that you feel are not as pretty as another person’s. It could be that your mental capacity is not as high as people you go to school or work with. You need to remember that God made you in a special way and because of that you should be full of awe and respect for the body or mind He has given you. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

Here is something we need to remember. These are not spiritual problems. The fact you were born with a low tolerance for pain doesn’t mean you are bad. The things you can’t control, are in God’s control and He knows what He is doing. God understands the chemistry and it’s effect on us. The best thing we can do is to understand that God is in control and accept the chemistry He gave us. I know that is not easy.

But you will never be able to make a change in your life or fulfill God’s purpose for your life until you understand that you are wonderfully complex and uniquely flawed for God’s glory. The question then, is this: What will you do with the chemistry card you’re dealt?

Discussion Questions

1. In your mind, what is the difference between your chemistry card and an ideal chemistry card? How did you determine how and why the card needed changing?
2. In your opinion, how well have you used your cards to date? How can you use the chemistry card better?
3. Despite some people’s opinions, everyone has flaws. How can you use your flaws to bring God glory?
4. Read the following paragraph: Because God is Himself the highest and greatest good, He is also the source and fountain of all other good. He does good things. He extends His goodness to others. It is His nature to be kind, generous, and benevolent, to demonstrate good will toward men, and to take great pleasure in making them happy. Because God is good, He wants us to have what we need for our happiness and He sees that it is available. Does that change how you look at your chemistry card?