Years ago, an author I’ll call Jen was writing a book with her daughter Kristi to give both mother and daughter perspectives on incidents they’d shared. They’d agree on an event, write their perspective on that experience, and compare notes.
Their list included a holiday a stranger had spent with them. As a pastor’s wife, Jen often hosted people in her home. That holiday, she’d looked forward to having her college children home and enjoying time alone with family. When someone asked them to include the daughter of an overseas missionary family who was attending college in their area, Jen inwardly balked. “Lord, can’t we have some time for our family?”
No one else came forward, so Jen swallowed her disappointment and invited the young woman into their home. The weekend went fine, but recalling this event resurrected her disappointment. Why hadn’t God granted her reasonable request?
Her Daughter’s Viewpoint
After Jen wrote her recollection of that holiday, she read her daughter’s memory. Kristi described how she’d been struggling with something she could not bring herself to tell any family member. Their young guest picked up on her mood and asked the right questions. Kristi decided to trust her and poured out her misery and dilemma.
This wise young woman helped her see the danger she was toying with. Kristi recognized her wisdom and received the courage to change paths. That weekend altered the trajectory of her life. She called their guest “God-sent.”
Tears rolled down Jen’s cheeks as she read her daughter’s words. Jen had never guessed the danger her daughter was in. She thought God had withheld something good from her when, in fact, He’d allowed this temporary disappointment to grant the deeper desires of her heart.
Heaven’s Viewpoint
How many of our disappointments will be turned to awe and praise when we finally get to see our story from God’s perspective? Can you imagine God showing you your story through His eyes? When He does, I’m sure tears will run down our cheeks, just as they did down Jen’s when she read her daughter’s experience.
We’ll weep over His goodness, His mercy, and His grace. I’ll weep over the times I doubted and distrusted Him. We’ll shed tears of joy seeing how He overrode our shortsighted prayers.
My friend’s story reminds me to trust my Big God with my confusion and disappointments. He sympathizes with the weaknesses that limit my understanding and invites me to come boldly before His throne of grace, where I will find mercy and help in my time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).
Let’s take our disappointments and questions and lay them on the altar of sweet surrender: “Your will be done. Your will, Your ways, and Your timing are always best.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take” (Pro. 3:5-6 NLT).
Our God Is on the Move
Here’s a 3-minute clip from Greg Laurie’s California crusade this weekend. 45,500 attended. 6,500 made decisions for Christ!
Today Linda Wood Rondeau features my post: What Do You Know About These Biblical Heroes?
Blessings,
Sometimes I link to these great sites:
#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth
Oh, WOW! What an enlightening story. God’s “No’s” always means He has something better in store – and what a blessing He had in store!
Yes He does! Even when we can’t see it.
Oh Debbie I can totally relate to that story! That is so powerful and a great reminder that trusting God knows better is always the right thing to do!
Yes! If only I’d practice that every moment! 🙂
God always has a better plan. My part is to remember that He knows the big picture. I sure don’t.
Amen, Yvonne. He sure does.
I am encouraged. Thanks Debbie.
Good to hear from you, Jingjing!
What a good reminder that God’s decisions are always for our good, even when we can’t see it in the moment.
Ashley, I love hearing these stories. They are good reminders for us when we can’t see how something can turn out good.
What a neat God-moment! I often have to rebuke myself for disappointments when things don’t go my way, trusting that His way is best.
Trust isn’t my initial response either. Recalling stories like this one reminds me to choose trust.
I love this reminder that God always knows what we need and send it to us regardless of what we pray. A no is always a bigger yes!
Karen, I wonder if God will show us those bigger yeses when we get to heaven. I somehow think He will.
God knows best and I’ve learned to try to accept the unknown plans of Christ. Thanks Debbie.
Thank you, Yvonne.