“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
–Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
Have you ever gone through one of those moments when you knew God had undoubtedly spoken to you? Maybe you heard a quiet voice in your mind, or maybe your doubts were suddenly and completely cleared away during a prayer. Sometimes God uses the situation you’re currently experiencing to speak to you in a powerful way.
Last Friday, Timothy and I took a taxi cab to the T-Mobile cell phone store. After we’d done our errands there, we took a different cab home. When Tim reached in his pocket to pay the driver, he realized that his wallet was gone. Our cab driver was nice enough to take us back to the store, but nobody had found a wallet there. Our driver called the cab company to see if the wallet had been left in the taxi we’d originally taken from our house to the store.
As the cab driver talked on the phone, Tim and I sat and waited, worrying a little more with each passing moment. What if the wallet wasn’t in our first cab? What if it was lying on the sidewalk somewhere, or someone had stolen it? Then we’d have to go through all the fun of canceling credit cards and getting him a new government ID. The only thing we could do right now was pray that God would bring the wallet back to us.
All this time, Timothy and I had been listening to contemporary Christian music on Tim’s cell phone. As we were praying, we both became aware of the song that was playing, and we stopped to listen to it. The singer told us that we shouldn’t worry about anything, because God is always in control of what happens in our lives. The song calmed both of us down, and we each decided to put the whole wallet situation in God’s hands.
A minute later, the cab driver informed us Tim’s wallet had been found, and it was soon back in Tim’s possession. Tim and I discussed the timely appearance of that Christian song right after we got home. We couldn’t believe how powerful God’s unspoken message was, and how it had brought peace to both our minds.
Tim and I both believe that song we heard was truly a message from God, telling us not to worry about what the future holds. Whatever problems you’re having right now, God wants to tell you the same thing. All of us like to think we have some control over our lives, and we love to think events are orchestrated through us, but the flow of life is really up to God. In the book of Romans (chapter 8 verse 28), it says that all things work together for good, as long as you love and are called to serve God.
What problems are you facing in your life right now? If you’re a Christian and the trouble you’re experiencing is making you feel worried, sad, frustrated, angry or discouraged, give all of your cares and worries to our loving God. I can’t guarantee that God will always make everything work out perfectly for you, but He will always hear your worries and answer your prayers. Whenever things don’t go your way in spite of your prayers, try to look for the lesson God is teaching you. He may be trying to tell you something, just as He spoke to Tim and me last Friday night.
As Tim said in last week’s devotion, we tend to make a bigger mess of things when we try to control everything on our own. If you don’t know Jesus Christ yet, I challenge you to study God’s word, ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn the control of your life over to Him. Instead of trusting in your own understanding, I encourage you to start trusting in the Lord’s divine love, promises and control.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.mynvm.com and click on the PayPal button. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 313-209-8800. Our PIN is 8699032. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.