When All Seems Lost
We have had our fair share of weather in Houston the last few years. Hurricane Harvey saw unprecedented flooding and recently we had a winter storm that rivaled those of Minnesota. I have lived in both places. One reason why I no longer live in Minnesota is because I really do not like snow or ice or temperatures below 60. I have to say when the power grid went down and my apartment became colder than my freezer, it felt pretty hopeless. I was wrapped in every blanket I owned and snuggled up on a twin sized bed with the warmest dog in creation. There were times when I prayed for death, but then I would get up, take the dog for a walk and spend the next two hours trying to make coffee over a candle.
The strange thing is that while it seemed hopeless, I made a few new friends in my apartment complex. A young couple in the next building over asked if I would text them when the power came back on, as did the lady downstairs. I met the maintenance man who was kind enough to check in on me and give me any news. I discovered that you can shovel snow with a license plate, but your back is going to kill you for months. Pool water is really only suitable for flushing toilets. And food is only missed when you have no way to cook it!
The longer SNOVID dragged on the more I thought maybe those 1970s TIME Magazine articles were right and we were headed for the next Ice Age, despite what Gretta keeps telling us. I kept looking out my window for a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger and a sloth to pass by. Nothing, not even a saber-toothed squirrel and a giant acorn. Wouldn't that have been something?
In the midst of all of this God blessed me unexpectedly, with the restoration of a relationship that I once thought was gone forever. This is my silver lining. My younger sister and I were close. We were 16 months apart and used to talk and laugh all the time. Then I hurt her, and our relationship abruptly ended. That was 15 years ago. I can't even believe it's been that long. For the last 15 years I've been praying for God to restore us. I really missed her. He was waiting for both of us to be ready. I'm so glad I nearly froze to death. I missed you Jennifer. I'm so sorry for not being humble enough to come to you.
Now, Imagine Jesus taking us by the hands and making us sit down and talk. Imagine Jesus telling us "we aren't leaving this room until you two make up and hug." Just like children I think sometimes we have to learn lessons the hard way. We have to go through hopeless times to appreciate that unexpected gift that tells us that God never left us and always hears us. Sometimes we have to go through darkness to see that bright sunrise that takes your breath away and makes you instinctively say "Thank You God. You are so amazing! Can we do this again tomorrow?" Imagine Jesus saying, "Of course! I paint this sunrise for you every day."
If you really want something and it seems completely hopeless, but you keep praying, one thing I know is that God's timing is absolutely perfect. He knows when you are ready and he knows what will make the biggest impact. Nothing is hopeless with God. No situation too impossible for him. No relationship that can't be healed, or anything that we have lost hope for. When my teeth were chattering I had no idea what was about to happen. While I was worried about the cold God was preparing a really amazing gift!
The song I uploaded for this blog post is by Danny Gokey. I love this song. I crank it up and sing it out. Nothing with God is hopeless. YOU JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET! Click on the blue music note at the top of the page to hear it!
Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Psalm 71:14 "As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."
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