Unexpected Places God Brings Us

Mid-December and I was bike-riding in t-shirt and shorts! This is why I love North Carolina. I spent the rest of the afternoon washing and waxing the cars. It was the incongruity of the date, and how I spent the day that made it special. Such activity would be no big deal in the middle of the summer. In the middle of winter, it was cataclysmic.

Which made me think about the way God works.

He never works the way one expects. He never brings peace in the way one thinks peace should come, nor in the season of life we think we deserve it. He rarely brings positive growth and change in the ways we pray for. He almost always turns our world turvy-topsy, so we squint one eye, cock our heads, and say, Hmmmmmmm.Why?

And, by the way, He almost never answers Why.

It is not comfortable. It is not what I pray for. It is not how I would run the world. It is almost always a shock how God orchestrates His plan.


Yet, it is always good. That is His promise and I trust Him.

As I biked in the sunshine, I felt hopeful. Sun and exercise have a way of lifting one's mood. While on my bike, two of the mamas I work with texted me. One just had a baby, and told me she was as sweet as could be.

She sent me several photos of the precious child. What a blessing that we had been on the sidewalks of the abortion center that day to encourage her to choose life! I told her, "I am staring at this picture and overcome by what a miracle she is."

"Me too," the mama texted.

The second had used gift cards sent by Cities4Life supporters to buy her children Christmas gifts. She sent me the receipt to show she had indeed used the money for her kids, and she was overflowing with gratitude. It would be the best Christmas the kids had ever had.

I am content, Lord. Life is filled with unexpected bumps and curves, but.... 

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." (Psalm 16:6)

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Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,

for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.”

I say of the holy people who are in the land,

“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.

I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;

you make my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.