When we look around at the world today with the mass shootings and the devastating wars and the financial uncertainties and, honestly, what feels like discord everywhere, it can easily lead us to ask the question, “Is God even paying attention to any of this? Or has he checked out?”
This won’t be a post specifically about God’s sovereignty over all of that, or how he can still bring good from heartache. I’ve already addressed those subjects a lot through this weekly discourse!
For anyone who isn’t aware, I’ve been involved with this grief ministry from God for about 3 years now. Last July, when I was actively (and with much technology-fueled frustration) working on about 4 projects, God brought it all to a screeching halt. And not surprisingly, he used technology to force me to take a break.
Little did I know it would be 7 months long. Again, not the topic for this post.
No, today I want to share with you something amazing I experienced that answered, for me at least, the title question. And I hope it helps bring some certainty for you as well.
The past few months I’ve had several opportunities to speak at some women’s retreats and other events, so it became clear that the 7-month hiatus had come to an end, of sorts. But just what did this new season look like?
I came to various forks in the road and often thought, “Is this a route God wants me to take in this ministry?”
Now I’m a bit embarrassed and ashamed to admit this next part. I have often prayed over specific areas of this ministry. But, I would almost classify them as “popcorn prayers.” The kind you just offer up quickly to God as you go about your business.
And yes, there were times when some major decision needed attention, when I would pray a little more intentionally. Of course, you know I pray over this blog every week!
But I have never set aside a decent chunk of time to pray specifically and intentionally over the different facets of this ministry. To present my petitions, to read through scripture, to sit quietly and listen for his voice.
Over the past week or two, I’ve had a strong sense that God wanted me to do exactly that. So I set aside a couple of hours last Wednesday, beginning at 2 p.m., to intentionally pray through a list I compiled of ministry prospects.
One of the major items on the list was praying about an opportunity to work with an established ministry here in town, run by an amazing godly couple, that focuses on biblical training for many difficult seasons in someone’s life, including a season of grief.
I left a message for the woman on Wednesday to discuss helping them with some of their grief sessions. She returned my call at 1:45 p.m. Please take note of that time!
As we talked, it became clearer and clearer that we had a heart and a passion for many of the same issues. Not only is it likely that I’ll help with their ongoing grief sessions, but she was excited to learn about the topic that I had been working on for A YEAR before the God-imposed hiatus.
She said she could absolutely see it as a follow-up to the more general grief training. Ever since God brought me back “to work,” I’ve felt like the digital course wouldn’t happen as originally envisioned…by me. But I always knew God wouldn’t waste that time and effort. Of course he wouldn’t!
As if that wasn’t enough, she mentioned another passion of hers and her husband’s was to help church leadership more effectively and compassionately minister to those in their church bodies who were suffering any kind of loss.
Bingo! One of my greatest passions as well! The vast majority of widows I talk with tell me their church wasn’t there for them after they lost their husband. The Bible is VERY clear about that whole issue. It’s time we helped them do this well.
The conversation itself sent me bouncing off the walls with excitement! But even more incredible and encouraging was the fact that God answered this portion of my prayer petitions fifteen minutes BEFORE I sat down to ask God about it.
Does that give you a glimmer of hope that he’s still connected to us, despite what our human eyes might see? Do you want to see him move in your life as deliberately as I just experienced?
I can tell you it’s nothing from my own efforts. God works mightily when we understand that the true source of any fruit is HIM. Our job is to listen well and be obedient.
Honestly, I’m not great at that whole obedience thing, but every now and then I do submit this human will to God’s, and when I do, he is so faithful to bless me beyond what I hope for or imagine.
Don’t give up on God despite the heartache and dysfunction and tragedy around you. He is still on the throne in big and small ways. I hope my story encourages you to watch for your own encounters with Almighty God. Being surprised by God is one of the best things ever!
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21