His Promise

"[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

I heard two powerful quotes recently. “If God doesn’t change your circumstance, He intends to use it” and “if God doesn’t give you your miracle, it’s because He wants you to be a miracle for someone else”. Wow! As I sat contemplating those words I must admit my first reaction was “well great. I am not going to get a miracle or have my circumstance changed”. And for a brief moment my heart rebelled at the thought. I could feel the tantrum welling up inside of me. I don’t want to stay in this circumstance. I want my miracle. I want, I want, I want.

If you are like me, you tend to wallow in the pit of “it’s not fair.” Why can’t I have just a few moments of peace? Why can’t I have a little bit of happiness? Why can’t things go right for just one day? Can you relate sweet friend? Are we not so often wrapped up in the why can’t I’s that we miss the joy of those moments of grace He slips into our lives?

Sweetheart and I have had a grand plan for quite a while. Retirement, traveling the country, enjoying time with just the two of us.  The list of what we want to do has become several pages long (growing longer with each episode of Diners Drive Ins and Dives). Yet, with each passing day, our circumstances cause us to wrestle with the reality that is our life.  With a handicapped grown son, grandchildren who need our care, and the call to ministry that God has placed upon my heart, it is becoming increasingly apparent that perhaps He has other plans for us.

Perhaps? Who am I kidding? It is OBVIOUS that He has given up on gently prodding me to hear His call. I have frequently spoken of the fact that oftentimes He has to whack me in the head (see blog about camping) or slam the door right in my face in order to get me to see that I am once again taking life into my own hands. I sometimes wonder why my face isn’t flat from all the times that door has hit me.

I am so very guilty of wanting what I want RIGHT NOW! I am impatient, impertinent, and totally selfish when it comes to what I think I must have. How often have I watched my precious grand-babies throw themselves on the floor in a major meltdown and not seen the resemblance to my own actions? Maybe I don’t throw myself on the floor in a wailing slobbering leg kicking tantrum but oh how I make the lives of everyone around me miserable with my constant whining of the unfairness of my circumstance.

God never promised me that life would be fair. He never promised me that all would go well. He never promised me that other people’s bad decisions would not impact my life. He never ever ever promised me that I would get to sit in a chair in the sand, sipping a cool fruity, reading my favorite novel, moving only to change the position of the beach umbrella.

What He did promise me was that He would never leave me. He promised me that He would always hold my tears in His hands and that He would never leave my side. He promised that the blank pages of my life would be filled with the things that would bring Glory to His Name if I would but turn the pen over to Him. He promised that He would leave the Holy Spirit to walk beside me and whisper words of encouragement when I feel like nothing is going right.

Dearest Father God, You are with me every step of the way. You have given me more than I ever deserved or needed. Please bring me to a place of understanding that what You have called me to do is so much more important than the selfish needs of my own sinful heart. Thank You for all that You have placed in my path. Thank You for those people in my life who show me that nothing is outside Your notice. Thank You for those who pray with me, for me, and in spite of me. Let me never cause another to stumble because of my whining or my selfishness. Help me to hear the cries of those who need me to be the miracle in their lives. Let me take no glory for doing Your work. For it is in You that I am made whole. In the name of the One who has changed our world forever, Christ Jesus, Your Beloved Son, Amen

copyright2012 Michelle Welch, Breath of Life Women's Ministry
quotations from Nick Vujicic
scripture from NIV1984
photography by Michelle Welch, all rights reserved