Wild Cards
By Elin Henderson
“And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose.”
Romans
8:28 (NKJV)
Nothing is more frustrating in a good game of Uno
than to be one card away from winning and someone throws out a Wild Card. You
know, the one that changes everything. You had it all planned out and, BOOM,
just like that, you are drawing yet another card from the stack!! Back to
square one!! BUT at the same time, nothing is more exhilarating than to play or
benefit from a Wild Card that’s IN your favor just one card before “going
out.”
God is in the habit of throwing Wild Cards into our
lives. Just when we think we have everything under control and figured out, He
throws it onto the table and changes things dramatically. Or, just when things
look hopeless and helpless, He comes along and throws a Wild Card that changes
things and suddenly it all comes together beautifully. Either way, He does it
to remind us that HE is the One in charge of the cards!
So the next time you wonder why life has taken a
very unexpected turn, either for the worse or the better, keep in mind that in
this game of Uno (the one we call “life”), God holds all the cards. He is
playing them out strategically in our lives to keep us dependent on Him, to
keep us from trusting our own plans and understanding. Embrace those Wild Cards
and trust Him with the game.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Looking back on some of
the Wild Cards you have come across in your life (positive and negative), what
are the things that God has taught you in and through them?
2.
How can that help you as you face future Wild Cards?
3. How is the story of Joseph a good example of
God’s using some Wild Cards? What does Genesis
50:20 teach us about how he viewed these Wild Cards?
FURTHER READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to thirteen-year-old Callie
and ten-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.
