Labor Day is a day meant for relaxation, going outside, and spending time with friends and family. However, Labor Day 2025 was a humbling experience where God taught me a lesson in heavenly focus.
The day started off like an ideal Labor Day, I had plans to go hang out with some friends, play board games, and grab dinner. For four hours, we played this neat board game called Root and afterward grabbed dinner at Olive Garden (an incredible experience). On the way home, I dodged a piece of wood that had fallen off a truck earlier in the evening. Despite missing it, the tire had been punctured by something and created a small pinhole that I couldn’t see. In the brief drive to the gym, my car had alerted me that the tire pressure was low. I checked and it was very low. Unfortunately, I had recently spent $600 on tires, so one more expense involving tires would quickly make me lose my mind. In an attempt to ignore this issue, I frustratedly walk into the gym, and within about 15 minutes had struck my head on a barbell and pinched a nerve in my back on a simple exercise. I very angrily leave the gym and walk to my car to find a flat tire. Indignantly, I roll my car down the hill to the bottom of the gym parking lot, change my tire, all while humming different Forrest Frank songs about having a “Good Day” or singing “Hallelujah.” The entire time, I realize that in my extreme frustration, I am humming these cheerful songs about praising God in life’s ups and downs, but all I could speak about were my present problems. I thought, “I don’t understand it. I know that God loves me and that I’m saved, but I’m so frustrated about this tire that salvation isn’t a joyful thing right now.”
While it is true to say, “Daniel, you have anger issues,” this situation reminds me of an analogy from the epistle of James. In James 3.9-12, James exposes the sinful talk of the brethren through a series of analogies. He asks if a spring can produce sweet and bitter water at the same time, if a grapevine can produce figs, or if a saltwater spring can yield fresh water. What does this have to do with anything? Amidst this, James writes, “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way” (James 3.9-10, CSB).
James 3 is an entire chapter condemning foolish and sinful talk but also exposing the reality of our tongues. Sometimes we empathize with verse 2, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.” How true
does that seem? We hear sermons on Sundays and Wednesdays about self-control in our speech but sometimes let grumbling, complaining, and insults fly from our mouths. As James says, “My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.” How do we solve this problem? The first step to fixing this problem is admitting we have a problem with it. Secondly, we need to put away sin from our hearts (James 3.13-16). Thirdly, ask for heavenly wisdom (1.5; 3.17-18). Finally, we need to reset our hearts on God. Paul makes a similar point in Colossians 3.2-3. On the heels of talking about sinful issues and casting off the “old man,” Paul admonishes us to, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (CSB).
Remember friends, you are called to higher things than being focused on the short-term problems of this life. I know that life can be challenging and that the problems of today seem insurmountable but take heart because the Jesus who stilled the sea is the same Lord for you and me. Trust in Him, focus on Him, and despite your troubles today, choose Him.