God Shows Up
God shows up in ways we least expect.
I met a dear friend for lunch, and it truly was a setup from God. It was about a week before Christmas, and we had scheduled to meet. When we sat down at the restaurant, she reached into her purse, casually pulled out an envelope, and said, “Here is your Christmas card.” I was actually going to wait and open it when I got home, but I felt led by the Holy Spirit to read it right then.
When I opened the envelope and began reading the card, I noticed there was money inside—hundreds of dollars. I looked at her, completely perplexed, and said, “What is this?” She calmly replied, “God told me to replace your tablet that was stolen.” I just sat there in shock. I didn’t even know what to say.
About a month earlier, I had written a devotional about my remarkable tablet being stolen and how God used that incident to teach me a lesson about unconditional love. Now, here I was, sitting in a restaurant, watching God replace what had been taken. As I reflected, I realized that the only reason I received this precious gift was because I had learned the lesson God wanted to teach me. It was never about the tablet—it was about my growth and my complete trust in Him.
I remember praying and telling God, “If taking the tablet is the only way this person could be saved, then let them keep it. I don’t want it back. It is more important for their soul to be delivered than for me to have this thing.”
Many times, when something bad happens to us, we forget that God has allowed it. Satan must go through God for permission to do anything to us. We are His children, and He is protecting us. Remember when God told Peter that Satan had requested to sift him like wheat—Satan had to ask permission.
I believe that when we can look past what is happening to us and ask God what He wants to teach us, we step into a new season. I am not saying the situation is easy, but as we surrender to God, our faith grows, and we come to know Him in a more intimate way. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, yet after Christ rose from the dead, Peter was the first to testify about God on the day of Pentecost, and over three thousand people were saved.
God is not the one who brings these trials our way, but He will always work them out for our good.
Key Takeaways
God is always in the midst of what we are experiencing.
Surrendering to God in obedience brings the victory.
God always shows up in ways we least expect.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
Follow me at JCC Ministries TV: YouTube Channel
My Books Are Available Now: Amazon - Life’s Journey Volume 2 by Jacqueline Crooks