It'll "Work" Out

Chris checking out the cars at a local car show

 I grew up with a phrase I haven't heard in a long time, "the devil is in the details." But I want to turn that around today and say that God is in the details. He is "working all things out for good," according to Romans 8:28, and I do believe that. But He does fail to notify us of the details.

David was anointed to be king of Israel. But God didn't reveal anything about the journey it would take to get there. He didn't mention facing a giant along the way. There was no mention of running for his life and hiding from Saul, who wanted to kill David. God just promised the kingship.

Joseph didn't get any details either. He knew the end of the story - he'd reign. Someday. Somewhere. There was no mention in those early dreams that his own brothers would betray him and sell him into slavery. God didn't tell Joseph that he'd spend years in jail for something he didn't do, either. God only told Joseph of the destination, not the details.

Paul knew he was going to preach the gospel to the nations, that he'd fulfill the great commission. But he certainly didn't know that his reach would begin in a prison cell. Paul saw what he needed to do - but he didn't see those little details.

How about Moses? God told him to get His children out of Egypt and bring them to Him. He forgot the details. There wasn't a mention of crossing the Red Sea, manna, or water from a rock. God just told Moses what He wanted to do - but He left out the details.

God doesn't waste anything. He uses all those details to shape our faith and draw us to His heart. I tried to imagine caring for my son while we sat in the hospital those initial four months after his accident. But I couldn't imagine the details. I did know that God was going to walk it with me - just like I was determined to walk "it" (whatever that looked like) with my son. But I couldn't even imagine the details of caregiving.

Those details have driven me to trust God more and to explore and redefine my own faith. I have found myself in the very heart of God, being held up by His hand. I've experienced Him calm the storms of my heart with His gentle touch. He's brought provision when I thought for sure I was doomed. He's fulfilled the promises of Isaiah 43 to me - in the unmentioned details. Yes, He has been with me in the waters, and He's kept them from overflowing and overwhelming me. God has been with me in the fires of caregiving and kept my soul from being burned. God is truly IN the details.

Today, I'll remind myself of how God has carried me on this caregiving journey and how He hasn't failed me to date! I'll focus my heart on thanksgiving for all He's brought me through. My thoughts will be on His ever-abiding presence, His never-ending peace, and His constant watch-care over my heart. I'll remind myself that He has every single detail covered before I'm ever even aware of them. I can trust Him for today. Will you join me?

                                                                                                      


Check out my website redo!

I just finished revamping the DFM bookstore. It's much easier to navigate. Check out the free download page (mostly there for caregivers, really!). And please sign up for my newsletter so you'll be the first to know when I release new materials!


Comments

Post a Comment

Our Most Popular Posts

Find a New Hobby for These Surprising Benefits

Image
   Hobbies can help us connect to our creative side, spend quality time with our loved ones , and boost confidence, and, as EverydayPower.com notes, they can also promote mental and physical wellness . Whether you’re learning something new from a class or taking the initiative to tackle a project at home, practicing a hobby can improve your quality of life enormously. Looking for something fun to do with a friend or loved one?   Here are a few suggestions when you’re ready to find a fun new hobby to try:   Choose something that boosts your health   It can be challenging to take care of your overall wellness at times, especially when you’re busy taking care of family obligations. Learning to focus on your physical and mental health needs is much easier when it’s fun, however, and that’s where a hobby comes in. Look for one that helps you get active , such as a yoga class, or consider starting a walking group or joining a local organization that allow...
Read more

But I Have Today

Image
Do you ever have days that are just heavier than others? Of course, you do - who am I talking to? Saturday was Chris' 37th birthday. For some reason, it was unusually hard as I thought of where all his friends are today. You know, married, having kids, and enjoying their careers. I cried more than once that day. I grieved over what should have been, what could have been.  I hugged him a little tighter and thought about the progress he's made recently. The other night, I am certain he "sang" to me after I got him in bed. It was the sweetest thing and I posted it in his Facebook group where I share things I don't feel I can share as "publicly." He's moving more and initiating more of his movement on his own. There are many things to rejoice about. At the same time, I am getting older. My joints hurt and I wonder how much longer I can take care of him. I fear the day that I won't be able to. This is the way the rest of my life looks, and I am okay w...
Read more

No Get Out of Jail Free Cards?

Image
  Do you ever feel like life just doesn't let up? Sometimes it seems like caregivers should get some sort of exempt card. You know? Something that lets us stay in the cave without having to deal with all the craziness that's going on in the world. Well, it was just a thought. I guess there are no "get out of jail free cards" in life. A pandemic rages on and we didn't get an exempt card, did we? Political and civil unrest didn't qualify us for one either. We have to deal with all the craziness in the world plus our caregiving responsibilities. Isn't caregiving enough? Dealing with aids who don't show, people and family who do not know how to help so they avoid us, and the traffic of health care professionals of all sorts is enough for any given day. Yet it happens over and over again. How do we stay sane?  Caregivers are resilient - we just keep going. Every night I go to bed feeling like I failed. I didn't get enough done. It's easy to focus on...
Read more