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 fourteen-year-old Callie and twelve-year-old Elias.
