Just for fun, I pulled my God Is Faithful journal off the shelf and flipped the pages to several decades ago—years when Steve served in the pastorate, our three children still lived at home, and I was a stay-at-home mom, then teacher.
God certainly worked behind the scenes for our family and created magnificent poetry. Here are a few examples:
THE POETRY OF ANSWERED PRAYER
11-11-85 I prayed with N. concerning a worrisome visit with her disagreeable aunt that afternoon. The next day N. told me the visit went beautifully. No doubt God not only worked through N., but prepared her aunt’s heart also.
9-27-89 I’d been praying God would affirm Steve during a difficult season. On this date he received a kind and supportive note from a parishioner.
11-7-89 The books my students had ordered from Scholastic Books were long past due for arrival. I’d forgotten to xerox the order form and checks before sending them snail mail, and now had no proof-of-purchase. (This was before online ordering.)
That night I prayed for God to intervene for me. When I arrived at school the next morning, there was the book-order box on my desk.
THE POETRY OF GOD’S FAVOR
6-18-86 A man came to our door with my wallet in his hand. He’d found it on the sidewalk several blocks away, where I’d somehow dropped it while returning home from an errand. (I’d walked in order to incorporate exercise into the day.)
I hadn’t even realized yet my wallet was missing!
1-13-88 I didn’t set the alarm properly, but awoke anyway the next morning—out of a sound sleep—at 5:15 on the dot, just when I was supposed to get up.
12-26-92 During our family Christmas Brunch (just the five of us—no visiting family), Steve asked the children what God had done for them in 1992.
E. said God had helped him become more focused and motivated at school. H. said he’d helped her feel better about herself and she’d been happier since the mission trip that summer. J. said he was thankful to go to a good school.
We enjoyed a great time of family togetherness, focusing on God and his participation in our lives.
THE POETRY OF GOD’S INTERVENTION
3 -25-88 I made it to Spring Break! In spite of 1,000 things to do in an impossible time frame, God brought me through. Actually, what He did was remove about 900 of those tasks!
I couldn’t believe how one thing after another took care of itself or was postponed. God worked out everything superbly.
6-1-89 I drove H. to ballet class in Steve’s new stick-shift Colt, so pleased that muscle-memory kicked in and we arrived with no mishaps or “frogging.” But after parking the car, I mistakenly left it in neutral.
When I came out of the school the car was not where I’d left it, but had rolled across the aisle into the matching spot on the other side, as if I’d parked there instead.
(Sometimes I feel like such a toddler in God’s family—he has to watch over me every minute!)
10-9-90 A contentious issue in our church came to a vote. We heard rumblings that some unhappy people were urging a “no” vote. But the discussion proceeded smoothly with a prevailing spirit of unity, and in the end a strong majority voted “yes.”
God had worked in people’s hearts; Steve felt as though we’d turned a corner.
5-29-92 I was registered to attend a week-long class, held at a hotel. When I arrived the desk clerk said the class had been canceled. Just then, another attendee, Ruth, approached the desk. We deliberated about what to do.
Though it was early evening on a Friday and the offices of the host school would likely be closed, we decided to call anyway.
A woman just happened to be there who told us the location had been changed to another hotel. Ruth and I were among those who’d registered early, before the change, and somehow had never been notified.
* * *
God’s sacred hands do indeed weave poetry into our lives! And . . .
You’ve no doubt experienced episodes of God’s goodness similar to those described above. Please share an example in the comments below.
Your illustration of God-woven poetry may be just what someone else needs to read!
Image credits: http://www.commons.wikimedia.org; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.pickpik; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.needpix.com.
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Your notebook is full of reminders of the wonderful ways God cares for us.
Indeed, it is, Linda!
It was uplifting to read your testimonies of faith, Nancy. God’s timing is perfect! 🙂
Amen to that, Nancy!
Thanks for this encouraging journal post of unanticipated answered prayer entries Nancy. I’m looking forward to turning the pages in my ‘unanswered’ prayer journal in Glory someday and rejoicing as I learn why ☺️
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
Yes, we all have our “why” questions, don’t we. I’m thinking that once we reach heaven, the answers won’t matter so much anymore!
Amen to that Nancy!
I can totally relate to the things you wrote in your journal so many years ago. Our lives are full of God’s presence every day if we just look for it. I didn’t do much journaling when we were raising a family but my husband did at a point when his business was crumbling with a bad economy. In that process we lost everything – house, vehicles, income. As I went through many of his entries into his journal during that time it was like reading one of the Psalms. His faith sustained him and allowed him to start from scratch.
Oh my, Kathy–what you went through! Praise God for faith that sustains and God-given perseverance to begin again. Someday you’ll have to share on your blog some of your husband’s psalm-like encouragement.
I probably won’t because they’re personal prayers to God. It was because of His faithfulness that we were able to start over.
I understand, Kathy!
Thanks for sharing this, Nancy. A very encouraging reminder that God indeed cares for us and is working in the dark on our behalf even when we do not feel it.
Praise God you found encouragement here, Manu!
When we are His, God can, and does, work in miraculous ways through circumstances that we could never anticipate or even hope for, Nancy. I so loved, and was encouraged by, the examples you gave here. God weaved poetry into my life when He gave me the stories in The Glade Series and Adventures in the Glade. I will ever be grateful to Him for His gift of writing.
I’m so glad you found encouragement here, Martha. And thank you for sharing your example of God-woven poetry from your own life. God is definitely using your gift for writing over at your blog–I see it in the comments your readers make!
Wow, thanks for sharing this!
You’re most welcome, Dana! Praise God for using that Sheila Niequist quote to inspire me!
Yes!
Love this wonderful examples of answered prayers, favor, and intervention. I’m still chuckling about the car rolling to the other parking space.
I image that flipping through these pages was a beautiful way to savor some wonderful memories and the touch of God’s hand. Amazing!
I’m glad that story gave you a chuckle, Wynne! Just having that notebook on the shelf is an encouragement, knowing that all those numerous pages include evidence of God’s gracious, attentive touch in our lives. It is indeed an amazing reality to contemplate!
Amazing list! I am also rereading old journals and am so overwhelmed by God’s presence, guidance, and love oozing from the journals. Many sacred moments that I didn’t remember but certainly will now. Good practice, isn’t it?
Agreed, Jean–it’s a wonderful practice! I’m so thankful God inspired me to begin my list of examples of God’s faithfulness. That notebook has often provided the encouragement I’ve needed to trust him for guidance, strength, wisdom, perseverance, and more.
Your Blog this week reminded me that pastors should be lifted up in prayer more than they are. Sometimes we take and absorb what pastors impart to us as they are used by the Holy Spirit to feed their flock. We need to remember that they have their concerns and carry a heavy load, too.