So what happened today? God was at work in our lives. What else is new?
He speaks to us in the way we’re most likely to hear him which is a magical part of the relationship he has with each one of us. My insights from God usually appear as thoughts in my head or reach me through books I’m reading. If you read yesterday’s post, you know I’m reading quite a few at present. It’s uncanny, really. Seems like whenever I pick up a book, an answer to a question or problem that’s been bothering me is right there!
Happened three times today.
Earlier today, Jennifer had a flat tire while going through a car wash near our home. Turns out the valve stem was the only part damaged, but it led to the tire losing all it’s air. Valve stems are not just valve stems anymore, unfortunately. The TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) sensor was damaged as well. $140 later and she’s back on the road. We believe the car wash is responsible for the damage and are pursuing it as such. I really don’t want to big battle on my hands over this. I pray the claim will be processed quickly and fairly so we can be reimbursed what we’ve spent to repair the issue. With all we’ve encountered as a family since September, you’d think we were due for a little break in the action.
Apparently God has greater plans for us. So be it. Just so happens I picked up God Calling, that neat little devotional book I told you about yesterday and wouldn’t you know today’s story was about having faith in God in times of trouble…
“Be calm, no matter what may befall you. Rest in Me. Be patient, and let patience have her perfect work. Never things things overwhelming. How can you be overwhelmed when I am with you?”
This evening I picked up the Magnificat Year of Faith Companion, another devotional I’m reading. Yesterday’s story (I was a bit behind, sorry.) addressed something I’d been struggling with for years in terms of my personal spiritual growth and development. It was exactly what I needed to read at the exact right time…
“If you turn your religion into magic: if you expect an immediate and literal answer to all your prayers, if you expect the grace of God to do for you by miracle what only demands a little hard work, you are misunderstanding the faith…”
Turning points are one thing. Those of us who’ve been changed can cite a particular event that was the catalyst. Still, much work had to be done to sharpen the sword of faith following that moment. That’s how it’s supposed to work. Cliche as it may sound, this statement is truth personified…”life is a journey, not a destination.” I can remember making deals with God when I was young. I knew little about God, having grown up in a family that was not active religiously so I took the liberty of negotiating with him on many occasions.
It went something like this…”Ok God, if I go the whole day without snacking you’ll let me wake up in the morning and be thin. Deal.” I would usually break the deal before having to experience the disappointment of waking up looking exactly the same as I did the day before. Even though it’s totally irrational, I’ve carried this sort of thinking through to this day. I don’t negotiate prayers anymore but I do hope for the day when I’ll read something or do an exercise and the next day everything will be different, everything will be “fixed.”
Not gonna happen and the devotional above drives that point home. I needed to hear and now I have. Time to remember that God is walking with us. He’ll never leave and he’ll never let us fall too far. He won’t take all our woes away in an instant but if we ask nicely and live by His word, he’ll make straight a few paths for us so we may conquer on our own.
God bless,
Todd
P.S.
Tonight, as I had completed this post and was taking care of some keywords and tags, I dozed off only to wake up to a black screen. Arrrggghhhh! Power cord must have wiggled loose and drained the last drop of juice out of the ol’ girl. What would that mean for this post. I was positive I hadn’t saved it. I prayed for God’s will to be done knowing that if I had to write it over it would probably be even better.
To my delight, everything was still here. How could I have doubted? Call me Thomas from now on.
God bless,