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Jacob's Blog
 Hello and welcome to my personal blog page called "faith lounge". Unlike my official ministry website, this is just a place for me to share my most current thoughts.
Panic Room
The following was condensed and adapted from the forthcoming book by Jacob M. Rodriguez, "Unbreakable" - God's Perfect Strength for Every Woman's Heart
In the 2002 movie called, Panic Room, Meg Altman (played by Jodie Foster), and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart), find themselves in a race against time, and two greedy burglars who become increasingly agitated and violent. The film focuses on what’s called a “panic room”, which is basically a safe shelter located in high-end homes. On the mother and daughter’s first night in their new home, two thieves burglarized the home, hoping to snatch three-million-dollars in bearer bonds that were left by the previous owner. This "panic room" was a place to hide and seek safety until the police arrived. The movie itself is quite a thriller and definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I’m no film critic, so the reason I mention this movie is to shine light on the panic rooms that women often run to in times of trouble and waiting. Although the movie’s panic room offered “protection” and not more “panic”, it breaks the ice on how easy it is to panic when hopes are shattered.
Sarah panicked. She could hear her biological clock ticking. No child. No signs of pregnancy. Little by little, Sarah became a difficult woman to live with. She allowed herself to become more and more irritated. I’m sure Abraham noticed, but as any wise husband would, tried to pretend nothing was wrong with her.
Let’s talk little bit about Abraham, not the Patriarch, but the husband. The hardest thing for a husband to do is confront his aggravated wife about her aggravation. Abraham was careful not to exchange in a war of words, lest he find himself further from a solution. Like most husbands know, he knew that there isn’t too much you can say to cheer up a wife who is emotionally hurt or upset. The wrong tone or the slight mix up of words could do more harm then help.
However, he couldn’t deny the elephant standing in the room. He knew exactly why Sarah was a bit edgier these days—still no baby.
In fact, I’m sure Abraham even felt partly to blame for her frustration. He was the one who uprooted her life and convinced her to buy into this dream. He was the one sold the idea and planted seeds of hope in her heart. To think that Abraham was completely detached from Sarah’s emotions is quite untrue. He could read her body language. He could sense that she was feeling the heat, the pressure. She didn't feel like something was wrong with the plan, but that something was wrong with her. Maybe she wasn't the woman she thought she was. Maybe she overestimated herself. As most women would, she took it personal.
I wouldn’t doubt that the most troubling thing for Abraham was not that his wife was becoming cold with him, but even with God.
So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children…” (Genesis 16:2a)
At face value, this statement may seem simple or unrevealing. But you have to catch the tone under Sarah’s comments. This is actually the boiling point in her emotions—a final complaint and withdrawal of responsibility.
Sarah was essentially saying…
“Okay Abraham, this is it. I’ve taken all I can and am ready to pull the plug on this thing. God himself must not want me to give birth. I’ve waited. I clung to whatever shred of hope there was. But I’m tired of pretending that things are good. I feel like God playing with my emotions. One moment I’m excited, the next moment you have to scrape my heart off the floor with a spatula. I feel like the punch line of a joke. I’m not laughing anymore. God has prevented me…better yet, restrained me from getting pregnant. This is where I draw the line. Game over.”
Sarah was entangled in a web of feelings. She lost all patience. She found herself in a place where you might be today—at your wits end. But here’s where she went wrong. The easiest thing to say is that Sarah lost grip of her faith, or that she didn’t have any faith. I don’t believe that idea. If Sarah had a lack of faith, she would have never bought into the promise. Sure, we can’t deny the role of faith in receiving her child. God was precisely interested in Sarah’s total trust. That was the glue that kept this whole plan together.
What made Sarah irritated and uptight on a daily basis was her lack of gratitude. She was so consumed over what she didn’t have, that she nearly ruined what she did have. This is a powerful portrayal of what happens when you get too focused on the things you haven’t received, as opposed to what you have.
I wonder if you can relate?
Have you become so frustrated with one of your child’s poor decisions that you have neglected to celebrate your other children? Have you become so tense and upset about losing your childhood dream that you haven’t thanked God for the roof over your head? Have you become so jealous of another woman’s life that you haven’t appreciated the one you have? Have you become so irritated with your husband’s few shortcomings, that you cease to enjoy his positive qualities? Have you focused too much on where you wish to be, rather than praise God for where you are now? Have you become moody, and at times you don’t even like yourself?
Believe me, I know these are hard questions. Maybe you’re thinking, “You do you think you are?” Or “He’s not talking about me.” If so, keep reading. You’re exactly the one I’m writing to. This is a wake up call—an alarm to your soul. It’s possible that you are about to lose a valuable relationship, a career or a ministry. If these pages are starting to feel hot, it’s because God is trying to send you message.
Sarah allowed herself to lose total control of her emotions and actions. Her frustration got the best of her. And the truth is, your frustration will get the best of you too. Your marriage could suffer. Your kids could withdraw from you.
Perhaps you think no one notices that you’re unhappy or consumed. But they do. And like Abraham, they just don’t want to upset you more. They don’t want to annoy the situation any further. They know that if they bring it up, it will only upset you, ruin your appetite, or silence you for the evening. But your frustration is not a secret.
Reversing irritation begins with gratitude. Let me give you three gifts to start appreciating, three ways to get out of the panic room of ungratefulness:
1. The Gift of Life
I know this one sounds like a no-brainer. But far too often we neglect to appreciate the gift of life itself. Life is so precious, so dear; we must thank God for breathing the breath of life into our lungs and giving us health. When you appreciate being alive, it takes you to the core of what life is really all about. This is why most people who have had near death experiences or have recovered from fatal illnesses have a much simpler, purer appreciation for life. They are grateful for another day because they kissed eternity. Surely it doesn’t take a brush with death to appreciate the gift of life.
2. The Gift of Ordinary Things
As someone once said, “stop and smell the roses.” When was the last time you did just that? Life can be so busy, stressful at times that you could miss out on some small treasures. In your busyness and focusing all your attention on what you don’t have, you miss out on the simple blessings around you. Make time to notice and appreciate the ordinary, the seemingly mundane things. Don’t take for granted everyday gifts. In many countries, our mundane benefits are luxuries. Be grateful for the small things that God has done.
3. The Gift of God
Jesus once told a headstrong woman from Samaria, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Let’s not bypass the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Appreciate the fact that you have God in your life. Consider where you would be without Him, without His grace, His mercy, His love. Maybe it’s time to thank God again for the gift of salvation, the fact that you were doomed, but are now forgiven. Be ever more grateful for the gift of God—that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
Sarah panicked by becoming unapproachable, irritable and unstable. But hold on to your cup of tea, because the ride is about to get a lot bumpier. I can’t imagine that even Abraham could have predicted what Sarah would say next…
posted by Jacob Rodriguez at Monday, May 19, 2008
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