Just one of those days…

Have you ever had “one of those days”? One of those days where little things that normally wouldn’t annoy you begin to pile up until you can’t ignore them anymore…and then they keep piling up? Then, because you’re agitated, perhaps you start thinking about the things you were hoping to accomplish and become in life and start to doubt…your faith starts to waver? I’m having one of those days…I’m kind of freaking out about some changes that are coming and am struggling to practice what I preach. I was re-reading some notes I’ve posted on Facebook and came across this one, originally posted on September 8, 2010. As I read through it, I was encouraged and surprised at how quickly I’d forgotten about the things I’d written in it. I’m sharing it with you today in hopes that it will encourage you to keep believing in your dreams and trusting God to help you overcome every obstacle that lies in your path!

Earlier today, I was emptying my pockets and noticed the change I’d received from a purchase: three pennies – all the new 2010 pennies. They caught my eye because they were so shiny and new, the design on the back is updated and they had the year 2010 on them. Seeing that year took me back to my childhood – a time when cell phones, the internet, mp3 players and TiVo didn’t exist (heck, we were all pretty excited about BetaMax/VHS and cassette tapes!)…

I have been a writer literally my entire life. One of my favorite types of stories to write as a child were time travel stories. While I wrote the occasional tale about traveling back in time, wearing poodle skirts and going to sock hops (we won’t talk about the cultural impossibilities that I didn’t quite understand at that age…), I tended to write more stories about traveling to the future. In one story, I traveled to the 2000s and met a girl who was the daughter of a scientist – so meeting someone from the past was no surprise to her. When I went to her house, I was introduced to the concept of something called a Vid-Disc. I wrote this story sometime in the 80s, but when I came across it a few years ago, I realized that my child-self had invented the DVD…boy, did I miss the boat on that one!

Most of my stories about traveling to the future described sights and creations that I’d created in my imagination. I’d never seen or heard these things, just made them up. But none of my imagined creations could compare to cell phones, wifi, email, texting, Skype, etc. I thought that the idea of a flying car or a meal in a pill was the most amazing thing the future had to offer…little did I know…I never could have imagined.

As I traveled through this train of thought, a scripture came to mind: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) And just as I typed that scripture, another favorite popped into my mind: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

As I child, I thought that the things I imagined were so major, but they pale in comparision to what the future really looks like. And so are the things that we as God’s children often imagine to be great miracles. We’re hoping to complete our college degree programs and find a job that pays enough for us to live comfortably and pay off student loans before we die…while the 1 Cor. 2;9/Eph. 3:20 God is prepared to provide in a way that will allow our debt to be wiped clean within months. We’re hoping to one day find that special someone who is willing to put up with us and our quirks and crazy friends/families…while God is prepared to provide us with the mate He created especially for us who will love us in such a way that we can feel God loving us through that person…

I’d go on, but I’m hoping you get where I’m going with this. You know me and all my talk about having faith…blind faith…Zambian faith…I’ve been talking about it a lot lately…and God has been pressing on me to not just talk about it, but to be about it…So, as I said to a friend earlier today, I’m ’bout to gon’ ‘head and step on outta this here boat! (Matt. 14:29)…I’m trusting God for some things that can only be described as miracles…not just for me but for my loved ones, too. We can never get too comfortable in where we are spiritually or physically…so…come on in, the water’s fine!

Faith: Don’t talk about it, be about it.