Exhausted and delighted describes my arrival home to Key Largo yesterday, after a lovely but action packed visit to TN. My mind was preoccupied with all the homecoming responsibilities as I stopped to shop at the local grocery store.
After paying for my selections, I grabbed the grocery bags out of the cart but neglected to take my wallet out of the cart basket. Silly me, I usually carry the wallet inside my purse and the purse never leaves my shoulder.
Arriving home, I figured it out and panic seized my thoughts. I realized most everything the world uses to identify me was in my wallet.
In TN., together with friends, we shared some of the challenges happening in our lives. In sharing, we saw positive outcomes to challenges were often dependent on how our thoughts, spoken words, and actions reflected the belief of God’s promises to us.
Through the discussion, we struck on the idea the challenge is not really the challenge but how well we know, understand and trust God in the difficulty. Do we really believe a loving personal God cares about details in our lives.
On my way back to the grocery I thought, “OK, what does heaven say I should believe about this situation?” I asked God the question and this thought came to my head, “Trust Me, this will all work out for good.”
Having received this instruction, I began to thank God for His work on my behalf in this situation and asked for favor as I returned to investigate. My husband joined me at the store and through the recording on the surveillance camera, the thief was identified, police called and report made. Yes, my wallet was stolen.
As I returned home, my thoughts concerning the thief were conflicted. How should I feel about this individual? How does God want me to pray for him?
I sensed it was OK to pray for justice on my behalf. My identity in Jesus has to do with victory over evil in the practical areas of my life. But I also sensed I needed to pray for understanding and mercy for this individual.
I asked God for an opportunity to bless him with God’s love. Then I thanked God ahead of time for whatever brilliant good was coming out of the situation.
As I drifted off to sleep last night, the worry that comes from the darkness crept into my subconscious and caused my neck muscles to tighten. I recognized those thoughts as destructive to my physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Knowing I’m God’s child, I deliberately meditated on His promise to me. “Trust me, this will all work out for good.” My neck relaxed and eventually I enjoyed a restful sleep as I claimed my identity in God’s way of thinking as opposed to fearful, anxious, doom and gloom thinking.
Waking up today, I’m remembering God’s promise to me in Psalm 33:22. My paraphrase goes like this, “Let your mercy be to me God, in proportion to my level of waiting and hoping in You.” I’m waiting and expecting a good outcome in the resolution of this crisis!