Blessings in the
Back
By Carolyn
Hulliberger
“For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:5
“Well,
Lord, I got here…late. I think that’s the best I can do today,” I thought,
dropping into the chair toward the back of the church. Emotional, physical, and
spiritual exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me. I started my God-conversation
in my head as I settled in, dumping on Him about all the issues going on in my
life. It seemed there were just too many demands, and too little of me lately.
From
my vantage point in the back, I stopped long enough to take a look around - -
and was stunned at the blessings of God represented in the families around me.
There were newborn babies; multiple generations of family worshiping together;
cancer survivors; teens sitting together - - not alone; accident victims
recovering; children brought to their forever families through adoption. I saw
others in the midst of struggles…how God was providing tangible help during
joblessness, counseling to struggling relationships, friendships to the lonely
and hurting.
“See,
I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive
it?
I
am making a way in the wilderness
And streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah
43:19
Looking
back, I think I was meant to be late to church that morning for a specific
divine appointment that could not be held in my normal center-of-the-room seat.
That morning, I could see some of the new
things that God was working on. And
in focusing on what He was doing for others whose stories I knew, I could feel
assured that He was also doing the same for me…even if I did not perceive it.
GOING DEEPER:
1. There are 30 days in November. Can you list 30 “new things” you see God
doing for you or others you know?
2. Try
sitting in the back of your church service, and let God remind you of His
faithfulness.
FURTHER READING:
Along
with caring for her husband and two children, Carolyn works as an insurance
representative, serves in Oakwood Church’s Student Ministries with an awesome
group of junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.
