It was a moment I never expected even though I sensed something was off. So, I prayed, confronted, and prayed again. I waited. I agonized and prayed again. Yet, here was the cold, hard truth. I could only watch as my husband of 20 years (who was a pastor) drove away. He was leaving me, our daughters, and our church. My life changed in an instant and where was God?
Psalms 33:11 tells us God’s plans are forever, and by his power they are sustained. He does not change and His Word never fails. God in His perfect wisdom, before I was even born had a plan for my days
But what about that day? What about the plans I had for my life at that time? What about my hopes, dreams, and expectations? I prayed, worked, planned, and did all the right things. Yet, on that day it didn’t matter. But as I stood there nearly paralyzed with pain, I questioned everything except God. Why? Because I knew from experience He could be trusted.
My first encounter with an excruciating event came when I was younger. My life had been good and uneventful until my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Back then, the survival rate wasn’t great, but I believed with all my heart God was the Great Physician. I trusted Him to heal her without question. Yet, the cancer spread and she died. I was shocked, brokenhearted, and angry. Above all, I blamed God. He had let me down.
Thankfully, even though I raged, cried, and questioned this nightmare, He quietly spoke to my heart. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7) In God’s economy, faith is gold. And this was my opportunity to allow it to grow.
So, this time when my world blew apart, I already had a lifejacket. No matter what waves of pain and uncertainty washed over me, I knew God had me. As hard as it was, I could still go for gold.
What emerged from the destruction of that unfortunate day was provision, protection, and purpose. God is always trustworthy. Everything in this life can fail, whether it is relationships, health, career, children, technology, etc., etc., etc. No matter how unstable or uncertain our circumstances, there is security in Him.
The God of my life then is the same God of my life now. He is the same God today as He was when He spoke the world into being. He is the same God of Abraham and David. He is the same God who redeemed Ruth. He is the same God who saved Rahab and her family. He is the same God who spoke to the woman at the well, and the same God who gave His Son to die for us. If God never changes, that means His love is forever. His forgiveness is forever. His salvation is forever. His promises are forever.
Times can get tough, that is the reality. However, Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” This is our God. Life may change but He does not.
When we position ourselves in God’s presence,
His purpose will always prevail.
Kim Johnson
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