I dropped my son off at school this morning and headed for Target. I needed a couple groceries but mainly I was after Gatorade. I was feeling a little depleted and needed a boost. Typically, I grab two. One for the moment and one for a few hours later. So, I grabbed one, put it in the cart, grabbed another and put it in the cart and reached up to grab another. I paused for just a moment. “I don’t need more than two.”
“Just get the extra,” I thought to myself. So, I did. I grabbed two more and added them to my cart and continued on with my shopping….and of course my browsing of all things Christmas related. I didn’t buy anything Christmas related, though. (I’m mainly stating that so my husband can sigh in relief.) Eggs, mushrooms, hamburger, a new hat for my middle son for winter. I headed for the checkout. After loading everything into the van I sat down and started in on the Gatorade. A little over half was through the first bottle I started perking up a bit. I messaged a friend who knew I wasn’t feeling well to let her know I was bouncing back and she messaged back she probably needed to do the same because she wasn’t feeling very well either. However, she was stuck at work and was going to have to wait until she could leave to go to the store. First, I laughed and then I messaged and told her I had extras that I had grabbed for a reason I didn’t know and I would bring her some.
Understand something…there was no big “buy this because someone needs it” feeling. I didn’t have on my heart to take it to her or even know she wasn’t feeling very great. All I knew was I had a very small nudge to just grab the extra. That’s it. I didn’t know the purpose but I listened. And then, once I had been obedient in that very little thing, once I was equipped, God showed me His purpose and at the same time reminded this friend how much He cares about the smallest of details. Psalm 37:23 says He delights in every detail of our lives.
Sometimes, God will ask us to do things without us understanding the purpose behind them. He’ll ask us to step out in obedience without any kind of big picture and sometimes it’s completely random and off the wall. Yet, over and over again I’ve seen it proven that He always has a plan and a purpose and not once has it missed the mark on being exactly what was needed. Sometimes, it’s obvious and when He speaks we think, “of course”. Then, sometimes, it’s not obvious at all. It’s the most gentle nudge to do something that we wouldn’t otherwise do. But He uses it. He uses it and He blesses our faithfulness and our obedience, our listening and that alone….seeing how He uses it all…knowing that we really are hearing from Him….that’s more of a reward than we could ever ask or expect!
So, tonight I am sitting here and I am simply thanking Him. This wasn’t what I planned on writing about for today. In fact, I had something completely different planned out. However, I feel like someone needs the reminder that He’s speaking, in the small nudges, in the gentle pressings, in the whispers. He IS speaking! You haven’t done too much wrong or too much hurt that He no longer desires to speak to you or to use you. Nope! Just the opposite is true. His glory will be found even now! When everything about a situation to the human eye seems unlikey….BUT GOD! His ways are higher, His plan is perfect and good. He works in the unexpected. You must simply be surrendered and willing to step wherever it is He may lead.
My Alabaster Life 