The next morning we slowly awoke one by one, and I tried to play it cool. Needing a fresh start, I decided we would hop into grandpa’s golf cart and make a run to the nearby mini-mart. It was an easy sell to the kids by convincing them they could get whatever they wanted. Chocolate donuts. Coke. Hot dogs. I didn’t care. Besides, I wanted an excuse to catch up with the latest hurricane predictions. Not only were we without air conditioning, but we also were without television. I knew it was going to be a very long day.
I forgot to tell you an important piece of information earlier…my in-laws live in a retirement community. Not only were we displaced from our normal routine, but we somehow wound up in the Land of Misfit Toys. We stood out like sore thumbs. Add to my misery, everyone was incredibly friendly…and, needless to say, curious also. Who are you visiting around here? What happened to your son’s chin? How long will you be staying?
Doing my best, I attempted to chit-chat while keeping one eye on the weather radar screen in the back of the room. I could feel the fatigue working its way down into my bones. The kind of fatigue I had seen my friends experience when struggling in their marriage, not knowing when the drama would end. Or in those who had sat for a lengthy period by loved ones in hospital beds.
Finally, a break in the conversation and I grabbed a seat nearby. And bowed my head and read…
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Thank you, Lord for your steadfast love. Thank you for the strength to keep on keeping on. Thank you for your daily bread. Your mercies truly never do come to an end.
Even in the midst of uncertainty, we have so much to be thankful for. I could feel God’s sustaining presence with me now. I glanced around to see my children laughing while engulfing donuts in one single bite. I saw the elderly reach out to be congenial. I saw God’s provision for me in providing shelter. Yes, Lord, you are so kind to me.
“…the secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is.”
― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
When we look for God, He is there. Truly my problem is that I don’t always look. Nor do I always want to accept the answer as God’s provision. I go about my days running frantically through busy schedules, sometimes barely looking up to recognize, “Yes, God, you are there.” This bump in the road has caught me off guard. Would I validate God’s goodness for slowing me down? God is always at work all around me–even in unexpected circumstances and misfortunes. God is working when I feel like I am barely holding on. He is working when I feel all alone in the desert. He is working when I stand in amazement at His creation. He is near when I open my eyes to see Him.
Whether or not I personally feel it or see it, God is always at work.
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