Smack Dab in the Middle
Yesterday, I had the privilege and honor of sharing a small piece of my story on a podcast. Once it's released, I'll share the link for those who might want to listen. The host had really done his homework on my story! As I had time to reflect on the last 15+ years, I realized that even in the midst of the pain, grief, worry, and extreme circumstances - God never lost sight of me. I thought of all the things He's brought about over this decade and a half. He had given me a vision of reaching the nations - and when I found my self in a caregiving spot, I literally could not see how He was going to do that.
Here we were yesterday talking about all the teachings I've done around the world. We discussed my 15 or so books and how several of them have been translated into Urdu and thousands have been distributed in Pakistan and India. It's crazy to me that we are now talking translating them into a third language, so we can reach more people with Bible study aids....blows my mind.
God did not disqualify me in because of my circumstances, instead He moved smack dab in the middle of them. He was working behind the scenes while I was stumbling, crying, and trying to find my way.
This made me think of some encouraging stories in the Bible. God didn't avoid hard circumstances, He walked right into them and brought all of who He is into them. Like Jesus walking out to the disciples who were in the boat - and He did it in the middle of a storm!
I thought of the widow in 2 Kings 4. She had lost her husband and was in debt over her head. The creditors were going to come and take her sons and use them as slaves to pay off what she owed. Elisha didn't tell her to "get herself together" and he didn't even tell her to go get a job - then come back and talk about solutions. Nope. God provided an answer smack dab in the middle of her problem! They miraculously filled every container she could find with oil, which was sold for enough to pay off the debt!
In chapter 6 of 2 Kings, a man came to Elisha and frantically told him that he'd lost a borrowed axe head. It had fallen into the Jordan River while he was cutting wood. The man was worried about the axe head because it was borrowed, which means he most likely didn't own one to begin with. I imagine if he didn't own one he didn't have the money to buy one. Elisha nor God had any condemnation for the man - they didn't tell him to go collect 10% and then they'd help. Elisha performed a miracle and the heavy, metal axe floated so it could be retrieved.
In these and many other situations - it was the need God responded to. People don't often seek help until they need it - and that is right where God meets them - meets us. He doesn't despise our needs or our circumstances no matter how bizarre. He just steps right on in. Sometimes, His presence smack dab in the middle of my crazy day is all that I need.
Today, I will remind myself that God is smack dab in the middle of my day. As I care for my son, I'll keep my eyes open for signs of His grace, which I know is empowering me to walk this walk. My meditation will be on how God doesn't avoid hard circumstances - He walks into them fully loaded with blessings, provision, and grace. I'll focus on believing in Him today as I trust Him for one more day - will you join me?
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Year Orange Juice Saved My Life
•Have you ever walked through something so difficult you thought you wouldn’t
survive?
• Have you ever clung on to a single scripture and hoped to live?
• Have you ever seen God step in and do a miracle?
In 1986, I had a mystery condition that we all thought was going to take me
out. My mom took me from doctor to doctor and I lived a nightmare of no one
paying any attention and no one finding anything. My mom, who was a nurse and a
minister, thought I was going to die and planned my funeral. But God stepped in
just in time! The doctors were then looking for something that no longer
existed. Lol.
The Year Orange Juice Saved My Life is my personal journey
through a sickness and many complex surrounding circumstances that nearly meant
the end. But God! But God turned it all around – this heart-wrenching story
turned miracle is available on Kindle or eBook.
Download the eBook: https://dovesfireministriespublications.com/products/the-year-orange-juice-saved-my-life
#booktok
#biblestudyguides #miracles
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