Pretty Sorry-Looking

         Just before the rainy evening began a week ago, after I had hurriedly rigged a makeshift shelter for the mama cat with four kittens, I looked out the window and commented to Mother, "That's a sorry-looking shelter but maybe it will keep them safe during this rainy night."

             The cat with a racoon-looking tail had kittens. She diligently cared for them by moving them into the garage attic from the floor of the garage. Then she tried a front flower bed as a nursery but finally settled on a soon-to-be tomato bed near the back door.

The  original bad weather box
made of discarded materials for
the cats.

             Rain was forecasted with cooler temperatures. I retrieved the large box I covered for the subfreezing weeks in February. The cats had refused to use it.

I let the mama cat explore the box and positioned it in the bed to prevent it from being flooded during the upcoming rain. I found an old porch chair’s liner and placed it on the top of the box as a loose door for the box front. Finally, I duct-taped large trash bags to repel the rain.

Now the true test. Racoon-tail Mama cat hung around and investigated its interior. I took a big risk by putting the kittens inside on the old feed bag liner. What a surprise when the mama cat joined her tiny kittens for the night! She agreed to try the sorry-looking shelter for her little kittens.

How many times do we find ourselves in a sorry-looking place? We don’t like the difficulties, inconveniences, and downright tribulations that seem determined to derail us.

The Bible has numerous examples of people seeking to honor their commitment to the Lord. Yet frequently, they find themselves in a “sorry-looking” place.

The hastily modified cat shelter
with its garbage bag-covered
door flap.

Joseph, an obedient son, found himself sold by his own brothers. After serving as a diligent, trustworthy slave, he was unfairly imprisoned, not at all where an obedient person expected to be.

David, a faithful young shepherd, sought refuge in caves while he was hunted down by jealous men. Why had his dependence on God put him in these undesirable places?

Paul, nearing the end of his life, found himself in a dank Roman dungeon with only Doctor Luke by his side. Paul had evangelized, discipled, encouraged, and prayed for innumerable believers and churches. He may have wondered at low times why his last few days were spent in such a despicable, “sorry” place.

Just as the sorry-looking box covered with old feed bags protected and shielded the kittens and their mother, so God provides for us in the middle of trying settings. God seldom removes us from our challenging circumstances. Instead, He provides strength, courage, peace and direction for doing His will in the middle of our calamities.

Safe and Sound in their Sorry-Looking Shelter

    The psalmist, David, expressed God's faithfulness in the middle of our difficulties when he wrote in Psalm 138:7: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

 Lord, give me faith to see Your work in my trials and troubles. Make me aware of Your daily work in my life as I see Your ever-abiding presence in Your Word even when the situation seems "sorry."

Note: After last week's rain, the mama cat relocated her kittens. Just hours before our recent rain, she had put her kittens in two different spots. I had placed the "sorry-looking" box in a spot in the old garage to discard it. She didn't know it, but Mama Cat needed it because of the rainy night ahead. As she ate, I placed the tiny ones on a "new" feed sack in the "sorry-looking" box. Then I showed them to her. She promptly returned to eating. However, as of this being posted, they are still in the "sorry-looking" box. May we express gratitude when God cares for us graciously even in "sorry-looking" times.