Mom came for a visit. Family from overseas was going to arrive and we had our summer plans all in place. And then it happened. In a brief moment, walking around our property, Mom fell on a bit of uneven ground. Ambulance, hip surgery and rehab for her ….. hospital visits, equipment gathering and rearranging of plans for me. The unexpected always takes us by surprise. And in it we have a choice to make.
As Mom settled her heart and accepted this unwelcome change of events she gave the entire situation to God. I had to choose to do the same. After all, we either trust our great God or we don’t …. there really is no middle ground on that.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5&6
Wholehearted trust on our part promises God’s direction His part.
It’s a challenge to trust He knows best when we have our own plans all in place. Yet, trust has no middle ground, and so we do as God’s word advises and lean not on our own understanding.
As Mom quieted her heart in the hospital bed and wholeheartedly trusted the God she has always found faithful through her 88 years, He used her there. The bed next to her stayed unusually empty for several day in that busy hospital. In the quiet of the evening, on several occasions, the night time nurses would talk to Mom. One asked the general question, “Are you married?” When Mom said she had been for 63 years the nurse was amazed! She shared her own marriage experience with Mom, cried as Mom shared the importance of faith and willingly accepted Mom’s offer to pray for her right then and there. Others who came to her bedside lingered to hear her faith stories. Another mentioned the peace that surrounded Mom.
Mom’s healing is progressing and her spirit is rejoicing and at rest as she sees God at work.
God’s ways are not our ways.
Unexpected turns on the pathway are annoying and frustrating when we have plans and agendas in place. Yet God sees the cry of lonely and empty hearts and we are His hands and feet and lips on this earth. As He uses us for His kingdom purposes a deep fulfillment rises up within us. We were made to be used of God. That is our highest calling and our place of deepest fulfillment.
As we trust God through the details of the changes, acknowledging Him in all of our ways, asking Him to go before us and smooth the details of the unexpected, He works on our behalf as well and He quiets our anxious hearts.
If you are experiencing an unexpected turn in life, invite God into it and rest in His deep care for you as you journey through the change of plans. Make this your prayer.
Father God, When life takes an unexpected turn for me I pray that You will remind me to quiet my heart and to fully trust You. I know my own heart generally gets impatient and frustrated when plans do not go as I have arranged. Fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. I want to trust You with my whole heart. Help me to remember to acknowledge You in every detail and every twist of the unexpected. Give me the peace and calm that comes from fully trusting You to direct my path through what sometimes seems a maze in life. Thank you for Your constant love and Your never ending faithfulness. Thank you for Your guidance and Your peace. Thank you for Your light through the darkness and Your calm in the storm. I love you Lord and I ask that You would help my heart to remain steadfast in trusting You daily! In the strong name of Jesus’ I pray, amen.
by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission
Further Reading
• Where Your Choices Can Lead You – Frank’s Story “Before long, I was drinking on weekends and dropped out of school.”
• Does God Only Love Christians?
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