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Did you know that the heat can give you indigestion?  Well it can.

One study from houstonheartburn.com states that 46% of Americans suffering from frequent heartburn identified summer as the time of year where they experience the most heartburn symptoms.   63% revealed their symptoms interfered with them being able to have fun and enjoy the barbecue season.

The effects of low humidity can make your eyes become dry and irritated, skin gets flaky and itchy, and the low humidity inflames and dries out the mucous membrane lining the respiratory tract.  As a result, the risk of cold, flu and other infections is substantially increased.

Many viruses survive longer in low humidity, further increasing your risk of getting sick.  (Which in South East Texas, we don’t normally have the luxury of low humidity.)

Trying to put a bed sheet on that is too tight is a huge bother.  The problem with getting one to fit perfectly is the key to not sleeping in wrinkles all night.  I can go on, but I’m sure you get the idea that we run into problems every single day, every minute of our lives.

Most of the small things like these, we just accept.  It’s the biggies that throw us for a loop and we don’t know what to do, or how to handle.  But the key is, we all adapt at some point.

We adapt to the small things pretty quickly, and eventually to the larger things.

The Israelites wondered in the desert and complained about everything up front, but they eventually adapted.  God called them a stiff-necked people because they did complain, and did not bend.

Did you ever think about why God hardened Pharaohs heart and gave him so much grief?  God wanted to make sure the Israelites could not go back.

So many times, we want to go backwards in our walk with God.  Most people don’t physically walk backwards, so it is a weird expression.  Have you ever wondered why it’s called a “walk” with God?  It’s because everyday you take a step in the same direction as the other person, or in this case God.

Your walking together, side by side, no matter if you have heartburn, the bed sheet is too tight, or if the air is too dry.  You’re still walking with God.

He might walk in a direction that you don’t want to go, to force you in a situation that you don’t want to be in.  But guess what?  He is still walking beside you.

Are you still walking beside Him?  Have you taken on the Israelites attitude and gone your own way?  You know how it ended for them.  They still had to stay in the desert, and they lost the privilege of living in the promise land.

The lesson to learn here is just do the right thing up front, so you don’t have to suffer.  You might think you are suffering because you are doing the right thing, but I can assure you, it is worse when you don’t go God’s way.

So, when you think your being inconvenienced, just relate it to being God’s servant, and walking beside Him.  Count it as your privilege to serve God in everything that crosses your path, and inconveniences your life.

Karen Y. Stevens is founder of Orange County Writers Guild