Waking with the heaviness of what was ahead of us on this day, I headed to my Quiet Place to prepare my heart for the waiting, the giving over of my husband to the surgeon’s hands, and once again giving my path to my sovereign God.  This was the day for the parson’s eye surgery and I had dreaded it.

Turning to my Bible reading schedule, I found myself in Jeremiah 17:7,8.  It reads,

1. It comes from taking in the Word of God; of renewing my mind in His truth, then obeying it.  It is here that I exchange my fleshly thinking for His Life giving Word – the Living Water.  All through the day, I needed to remind myself of what was true instead of the “what-if’s.”
2. When I look for others with whom we can share my faith, I am bearing fruit.  When someone asked how I was doing, I had to acknowledge that I knew the Lord was good, and I was resting in Him.  Giving testimony of God’s provision and faithfulness is another way to bear fruit.  Sharing tracts with folks in the surgery center and others in the community that ask how he’s doing gives other opportunities for fruit bearing.
3. It is my duty to trust in the Lord. (Verse 7a)  When fear strikes my heart, or sorrow overwhelms me, I must trust in the Lord.  That means to run to Him; give Him my burden.  I must cry to Him before I call others. Having seasons of prayer has been like the soaking rain in a drought; it’s refreshing, it’s calming, it’s welcoming.

Last Friday afternoon I was at home, happy to be back in my nest after being away for several days.  I was merrily vacuuming the rug in the living room, and was pondering my blog and the post for “Freshen Up Friday” that would post the next day.  Then, a light came streaking into my head (I have to listen carefully when that happens!)!  “Wait!  Today is Friday!”  I had gotten disoriented in days and dates while being out of my normal routine.  So on Friday, the post was My Own Denial instead of a “refreshing idea.” I shook my head at my own forgetfulness and was tempted to run to the computer and apologize to my readers, but I was stopped in my tracks by a God Who makes no mistakes.  The Lord reminded me that He is in control of everything, and that the post that was written was the one that He wanted.  Indeed, every day I give Him my blog and ask for His direction and guidance as to what to write and how to encourage those that would read.  If I really understand His direction in my life, I have to acknowledge His sovereignty even in this. “Someone must have needed this today, Lord.”  It was a little thing, but you know, little things really aren’t little.  The Lord cares about each detail of our lives.  Sometimes the little things cause bigger things to transpire.

I’m sure most of you have heard about the accident that the Cretzman family was in yesterday.  They are missionaries to Cuba who hit a patch of ice on the interstate, causing an accident that took the life of their 3 year-old and injuring the mother.  It could have been “little things” that caused this “big” thing…the choice to get up a little early to get on the road, a change in directions from one road to another, something that was forgotten and needed to be retrieved…who knows?  The point is, in all of life, we must direct our thoughts to the God Who is in control; to the God who allowed the “little things” to determine the “big things” – like death.   If it seems cruel that “God allowed this little one to die whose parents are going to the mission field,” we don’t know the heart of our God.  We are reminded in Isaiah 55:8, 9:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 We do not know the mind of God, nor His ways, plans or reasons, but if we know Him, our first thoughts will be ones of prayer for the parents’ hurting hearts, for the lost world that might be reached as a result of this little one’s death, and of trust in the God Who makes no mistakes. 
 
Whatever interruption has come into your schedule, life, or plans today, be it little or huge, acknowledge that a sovereign God Who loves you has so allowed that thing to happen.  Look for Him in that very detail.

With prayers for the Cretzman family and love for you,