It all started with my son and football. My son has wanted to play football FOR years. My husband and I avoided the commitment FOR years...until this year. This year, my son's freshman year, was going to be the year that we would let him experience what it would be like to play football with a local school. My son spent the summer practicing, weightlifting, and building relationships with the team. Things were going well, I was going to watch my boy play! Then we missed a deadline on the paperwork and the possibility of him playing was called into question. I was disappointed and frustrated, he felt the same. I looked over at him and asked him, "If you can't play football this year, will you trust that this is God's plan for you, that He knows best?" He met my gaze and said, "Yes". We got in the needed paperwork. He got his pads and jersey. It looked like he was going to play after all. Another issue revolving around school zoning arose. There was no way around it. He will not be playing football this year. My son handled this disappointment with such grace and maturity. He is really, truly trusting God in this situation.
The weeks following this football story, it was my turn to answer the same question I had asked my son. God was whispering in my heart, asking me if I would trust His plan for my life, not just in the big things but in the everyday things. His question came in different situations:
Michelle, will you trust Me when your son is disappointed and there is nothing you can do to fix it?
Michelle, will you trust Me when your other son is hurt badly and an ER visit is necessary? Will you trust me to protect what is so valuable to you?
Michelle, will you trust Me when you have an extra wait time that cuts in to your schedule? Will you be joyful and at peace?
Michelle, will you trust Me when your day and plans are interrupted because one of your children has lice and your dryer breaks?
Michelle, will you trust Me when your equipment for your business is broken and customers are waiting? Will you trust that I alone am able to supply all your needs?
Michelle, will you trust Me in EVERY situation? The good, the bad, the ugly, easy or difficult?
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
~ Psalm 139: 1-18
God knows me! There is nowhere that I could go or situation that I could encounter that God is not there. He has created me. He knows all my days - past, present and future! Will I trust Him? Yes! Is it always easy? No, but the more I trust the easier it gets.
