Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Small Potatoes?

Our son called. His voice brimmed with wonder as he relayed the faithfulness of God.

After a period of unemployment, he has secured a job that requires three weeks of job training in Charlotte. Charlotte is over two hours away. One way. Every day. For three weeks. Ugh. How in the world were we going to do this? How in the world, indeed.

Those of you who find themselves unemployed know how difficult it is to make it to the grocery store and church every week. Can you imagine adding a four-five hour daily trip to that mix? Our little family pooled money the first week to help out. By Friday, the well was dry...the world's well, that is.

Our son called Friday evening. "Guess what, mom? Y'all aren't the only ones helping me out this week."

"Really? Awesome. Who else has helped you?"

"God."

"God? Well, of course God has been helping you."

"No," he said. "I mean God is helping me. I was stuck in traffic and my tank was flat empty. I prayed and asked the Lord to help me get home. Mom, I sat there and watched the needle on the gas gauge go up! I'm not kidding! God gave me enough gas to get home."

Oh. My. Goodness. Is God good or what? But there's more...

Week two of driving to Charlotte was looming as we prepared for Easter morning. Our son won't get his first paycheck until the end of this week. We all prayed and asked God for a miracle.

Sunday morning at church a precious woman of God gave us a card with $50 inside. "Praise the Lord!" we exclaimed. We drove to our son's home Sunday afternoon to give him the $50 to get to Charlotte Monday morning. We told him he could use our debit card to get back home because our check from church (David pastors a small church of about 30 members) would be in the bank by then. Of course, David and I are facing a week of bills and expenses and over two years of unemployment. Every penny is accounted for. We desperately needed God's intervention.

A young woman very dear to our hearts called Easter afternoon. She heard that for the first time in thirty years of marriage I couldn't prepare an Easter dinner for our family. She was at her mom and dad's and wanted to bring us a plate from their dinner. "How sweet!" we said.

Awhile later, she came with our Easter dinner. "I have a surprise for you," she said. She pulled a $100 bill from her pocket. "Mom and dad wanted to help you."

Oh. My. Goodness. Can you imagine the tears and goosebumps? God more than met our need.

Sweet friend, here's the take-away...Our God sees and knows all about it! El Roi is one of His Names revealed in the story of Hagar in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Hagar, a servant girl, was banished to the wilderness by Sarai (Abraham's wife) because of jealousy. Hagar had conceived Abraham's son, Ishmael, out of obedience to Sarai. Now, she sat alone and afraid by a spring in the wilderness, not because of anything she had done. Her suffering was a result of others.

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar, ministering comfort and guidance. "Then she [Hagar] called the Name of the Lord who spoke to her, El Roi, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me?'" ~ Genesis 16:13

The God Who sees and knows all about it. You, friend, are not alone in your suffering. You are not alone in your trial.

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his  unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever" ~ Corinthians 4:18, The Message.

SELAH. Pause and think about it.



Father, Your goodness astounds me! You never fail Lord. Ever. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Help me walk out this lesson every moment of every day. You're teaching me Lord to depend totally on You, to rest in Your Presence. I ask that You impart this priceless lesson to my readers also. Seal this Truth within our spirits causing anxiety and fear to lay void and powerless at our feet. Thank You Lord. You are an awesome God.
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