Reminders

Sunday morning, I woke up to some dark clouds in the sky, and it was a perfect visual to match my emotional state. Discouragement and doubt clouded my mind right off the bat.
The night before had been filled with love and laughter as my immediate family gathered in our home. Times of togetherness are becoming fewer and farther in-between now that our kids are moving out of the house and on with their independent lives. That evening I went to bed with a full and thankful heart after my husband served up a deliciously grilled supper and we all visited for several hours.
However, the next morning it was as if I had no recollection of the night before. Nagging challenges advanced to the forefront of my mind even before I fully opened my eyes. I dreaded going to church where I was scheduled to be the song leader, because leading a congregation in upbeat songs of praise while feeling down seemed to be a difficult task.
Most mornings, (not all, and I am working on that) I make the effort to have Scripture be the first words I read, before emails or social media. On Sunday, when I opened the Bible app on my iPhone, the first verse to appear was Ephesians 3:20:  “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.”
I especially appreciate the way the Message version says, “God can do anything, you know…” Why yes, I DO know that. Sometimes, I forget or act as if I don’t know He is bigger than the difficult situations I am facing. Yes, I DO know He can do anything. I just happen to be in need of reminders sometimes.
Was it a coincidence that those words appeared on my phone screen that morning ? Nope. I am convinced that God does not deal in coincidences!  I believe He designed that moment so that those two sentences from His Word would be the first thing I read that morning. He knows exactly what we need, and He knows precisely when we need it.
God sees us when we are hurting. In the midst of our hurt, I believe He wants US to see HIM instead of our hurt. He wants our focus to be the God who “can do anything.” He wants us to focus on the Problem-Solver instead of the problems. To focus on the Burden-Carrier instead of the burdens.
I did lead music in church on Sunday, and I told the congregation about the beginning of my day. A few people thanked me for the reminder that our God knows what we need when we need it. Aren’t you glad we serve a God who orchestrates our days so that those divine reminders come at just the right time? Me too.