Pastor's Paragraph
Snafu "For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble
spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (Job
5:6-7). Perhaps
you have heard someone talk about a "snafu." You probably realized that
the word meant something had gone wrong, but you may not know how it became a
part of our English language. In reality, "snafu" is an acrostic, often
used in the military, with the first letter of each word in the phrase, "Situation
normal, all fouled up." In other words, when something goes
wrong, why be surprised? It's only normal for things to get fouled up.
A "snafu" is something that can be expected. It's just a part of life. Job's circumstances, of course, predate the word "snafu" but not
the idea behind it. Job's friend Eliphaz recognized that "trouble"
and "man" have a natural affinity for one another. As sparks
from a fire are drawn upward by the rising heat, so trouble seems naturally
drawn to man. It reflects another adage of our time: "If
something can go wrong, it will." No matter when or where you live,
"snafus" are going to find you. Christians are sometimes dismayed when things go wrong in
their lives. After all, when we trusted Jesus Christ as our personal
Savior, our troubles were supposed to be over, right? Yet the truth is
mush different. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation"
(John 16:33). That's just a normal part of living. The apostle Peter
even said, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (I
Peter 4:12). "Snafus" are not strange or out of the ordinary, even for
Christians. Perhaps you are experiencing a "snafu" today.
Something you planned is fouled up. Don't be surprised. Instead,
turn to God. When your life goes contrary to your expectations, He is able
to give you either the wisdom to deal with it or the grace to live with it.
Trust Him. When trouble draws close, draw close to the Lord.