Open My Eyes

Good morning friends! A young woman of God exhorted the congregation in my church Sunday. There is always good wisdom in the Word of God, and I like to think I am always listening! There are those times though, when the simplest things hit you upside the head and a light goes on! You can hear a scripture a million times and then one day, just "get it". This young lady spoke about hearing from God. About how He is always there whether we "hear" or "feel" him or not. He never changes, we do.

She told us she has learned to listen more closely during life's little "interruptions". I thought of the times in the past year that my life has been interrupted by unexpected occurrences. By things that weren't part of my plan. How I grumbled inwardly about not having time to deal with it "right now". Of course, I got through them, but how much better to have learned from them, or to listen to what God has to say about them?

Whether it is a small thing like a change in schedule or a major life change, such as an unexected pregnancy, we need to remember that God is in them with us. (What if He didn't have time for OUR interruptions?) We have so much going on in our busy lives that we consider every tiny detour an interruption. How dare that neighbor call during our study time? Why does that single mom need a ride to church at the last minute on a day I need to be there early? Did my sister really need a place to stay the same weekend that my mother-in-law was visiting?

Sure, we may deal with these interruptions, we may talk to that neighbor or give someone a ride...good Christians that we are. But do we resent them? Do we get behind in our own little plans and then stress out trying to catch up? I know that sometimes I do. I recently helped out a family member, again. The same one that always seems to need something when I am busiest. I went through the motions of meeting their needs, but I was not happy about it. Because of my inner resentment, I almost missed the little moments: a child's grateful hug, slowing down long enough to see a butterfly in winter, really hearing the words to a song I thought I had known for a long time. Finding out that hot dogs do taste good in scrambled eggs(A child's idea) because I forgot to take the sausage out of the freezer.

Yes, God is there even when we aren't listening. He's in the small stuff and even in the interruptions. I am learning to acknowledge Him in all of those, how about you?

Scripture reference:
1st Kings 19:11-12
Then He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord", and behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.