Story Time: What A Mighty God We Serve!

Sometimes what we need most is to hear stories of God‘s faithfulness. Perhaps that’s why a good part of the Bible is stories. Stories of failure, stories of hardship, stories of victory, stories of despair. Our life is a story. When we let God write it, it has glorious, eternal implications; when we write it by ourselves, it’s pretty much a disaster. So allow me to bring glory to God and hopefully—encourage you—by sharing a story from recent events. My prayer is that you see a demonstration of the power and presence of God. 

Sharing our testimonies of God’s work in our own life is one of the best ways to glorify Him!

Thursday afternoon: I was in the middle of an estate planning signing when a member of my staff told me I had an emergency phone call. My heart nearly stopped as I left the room to take the call on my office phone. When I sat down at my desk, I glanced at my cell phone and saw it had been blowing up for the last half hour; but it had been on silent so I had not heard it. I picked up the call and my daughter Grace had just heard that my youngest daughter, Sara—who had recently been in Argentina—was in a hospital in Panama with dengue fever. She was being cared for by a friend. I’d never heard of this fever, and after a short minute of research found out it ranged from mild to serious. This did not help. I was able to make contact with Sara’s friend and learned the hospital staff believed she was stable. My heart was in turmoil as I hung up the phone and sat there at my desk, asking God, “What do I do?” My passport was 60 miles away. But God instantly gave me peace to go back to the estate planning signing. Of course, my clients were very concerned as I shared the news with them, and as soon as I sat down, the wife reached for my hand and reached across the table for her husband‘s hand and said, “Let’s pray right now.” I was floored! How did God orchestrate the timing to have these particular clients here with me when I received this scary news? I could’ve been anywhere, but He planned to have this godly woman in my office to pray with me at a time when He knew I would be feeling completely helpless. 

Thursday evening: I was driving from Missouri to Arkansas to spend the last weekend with Grace, Jake, and my grandbaby before they moved to North Carolina and also to cook for the celebration of multiple family birthdays, including my mom’s. The thought of the kids leaving had set me on an unexpected emotional roller coaster for weeks. I had no idea the bond with a grandbaby could be so strong! Thus, I had been asking God repeatedly to take the sadness and replace it with joy. He was so faithful to do it. But you know, when it comes to my only grandbaby my heart just wants what it wants and doesn’t always listen to my mind so—I was having to lean into God a lot to readjust my attitude. 🫣 Of course, mom, dad, and Hannah were also very sad about little bear and her parents leaving! As I pulled into the driveway, my heart sank as I received a text that the lady I had just hired was no longer able to come work at our office. I just sat there in my car and said, “Lord, I can’t handle anymore of this, You need to figure this ALL out for me.” I got out of the car and went into the house to hug my sweet little bear and left the office issue with God.

Friday: More craziness. Jake was frantically finishing the packing. Grace was taking a continuing education class. Jake’s parents and uncle and aunt were driving the long 15 hours from North Carolina to help haul their household goods. I was in charge of the little bear and making the birthday dinner (five birthdays) for about 20 people. Grace, who is a nurse, was also frantically making phone calls and sending texts to make sure Sara was getting the best treatment in the hospital in Panama. Sara was doing her best through her pain to translate everything from Spanish to English and thankfully her friend Jonathan was there to help. By Friday evening, the North Carolina crew got in just in time for dinner and cake. The day culminated into pure, lovely, sad, chaotic, and crazy all at once—kind of like a southern version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. After everyone left, Grace let little bear have a sleepover with Granny and well, there is nothing sweeter—and even her happy dance and giggles at 0400–made my heart so full! 

Saturday: The morning was bittersweet as I watched part of my heart drive away. Ah, but we were so thankful for Jake’s family making the long trip to ferry them safely to North Carolina! We knew life was not going to be the same without them being so close by. Meanwhile, Sara’s condition had leveled out but not improved. She was in a lot of pain. Thankfully, her boyfriend, Drew, had flown down to be with her and was taking great care to update us on every medical detail. Mom, dad, Hannah and I sat in the house and realized just how quiet it was without the kids and little bear around. We looked across the driveway to the empty house where they had lived and it was just sad. Again, I asked God, “Please replace my sorrow with joy.” He did. [Miracle 99, right?] Then, as I am prone to do—my thoughts wandered to my next problem—finding another employee to join our awesome team. I was going to begin checking on résumés, but God did not give me liberty, so I spent time with my family instead. He already had a plan—I just didn’t know it yet. 

Sunday: At some point on Friday or Saturday I checked Facebook and noticed a friend request from a lady I didn’t know. I briefly stalked her page and then accepted. 🤣 I noticed she was a Christian as well as an artist and was led to send her a message. As we were getting acquainted, she asked me to pray for her because she was starting a new job on Monday. I mentioned I was looking for another legal secretary/paralegal to join my awesome team of four ladies. The long and the short of it is this: She sent me her résumé,  I interviewed her over the phone on Sunday afternoon while driving back to Missouri and—voilà we both felt peace and an answer to our respective prayers! She joined us on Monday! The kids made it safely to North Carolina and by Monday Sara was discharged from the hospital to be able to fly home on Tuesday. 

Monday: I was up at 0330 and led to write this story. I thought, “Who knows what the future holds? Oh wait, God does. He is already there.” We couldn’t handle the knowledge of the future and way and so I’m glad He doesn’t tell me—aren’t you?

My friend, we ALL have problems. We ALL do. We need to love each other as we are loved by God. We need to have compassion for each other because we never know what someone is going through. When God’s presence is our strength, our own problems don’t hinder our ability to show compassion to others. I share my four days of craziness with you because I want you to know you don’t have to do life alone. God will walk with you through the biggest problems and your broken heart. He cares. He loves. He longs to be our defender and protector. 

GOD ALWAYS does my life better than I do!

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

Psalms 34:17-18

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” ‭‭

Psalms 46:1-3

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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