Psalm 139:7–10 (NIV): 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
I drove home from work on Monday to see Hot Stuff waiting in the driveway.
Hot Stuff has a huge grin on his face and says “Hey sweetie. I got fired today.”
What’s weird is, I already knew.
I was driving home from work and thought, “I bet Hot Stuff lost his job today.” Part of me hopes he did lose his job.
Of course I was a little stressed. Who wouldn’t be. Mostly? Im flooded with relief. Hot Stuff has not been happy at work for a long time.
My husband is an undeservedly, loyal man. He has been working in a very hostile work environment for the last 6 months. While I wish Hot Stuff had been able to quit first, I’m just glad he’s out. To say Hot Stuff has been exploited would be an understatement.
Do we have bills to pay? Yes. Are we going to lose our insurance? Yes.
Still. My husband looks happier than I have seen him in a long time.
We will be okay. We both have an inner peace.
Hot Stuff is making Uber deliveries while he searches for a new job.
I do my part and return to teaching English As A Second Language in the early mornings.
When I open my schedule for availability. I am greeted by a series of messages from former students. These messages range from wanting to know if we were affected by last month’s Texas floods, to when am I available to tutor again.
I smile.
God always manages to meet us in unexpected places.
Sometimes God meets us in the natural world.
I think back to the first time I was aware of God’s presence. I was three.
I was lying on a wooden floor in our Tokyo townhoome, when the sun came through a window and covered me. It was the first time I was aware of a presence bigger than me.
I don’t know why the sun exemplifies God in my heart. To this day, when I see sun pour through a window, I think, “Ah, there he is”. My heart feels hugged.
Sometimes God meets us through others.
As a prison volunteer, I often saw God in the midst of prison life. If we are all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), then every person I encounter represents God. In prison I found, dedicated search of scriptural understanding, fellowship, deep soul searching and joy. Joy in all circumstances.
In my ESL students, I found encouragement and support at a time when I was embracing both panic and relief. Even if my student’s didn’t know, I believe God did.
During the season of my divorce (prior marriage) I asked God to “send me His finest” for a season. I found His support through co-workers, a coke-addicted landlord, my church family, long-lost childhood and college friends, and friends I met in prison.
I believe God meets us through scripture, through others, through the world around us, in dreams, and even coffee houses.
There was a season in my early forties when I was really struggling with some bottled up dysfunction. I am a survivor of childhood emotional, psychological and occasional physical abuse. An adult survivor of emotional, psychological, physical and sexual abuse. I had hit a rock bottom and was finally working with a therapist to process and navigate all of this.
I carved out some time for myself each week. I took a spiral notebook to Starbucks and began journaling. It was the first time in decades I had carved out regular time for myself.
As I started journaling, I realized that I was journaling to God. I would always start “Dear One”, then pour out my stuff. I went through at least 70 notebooks over the next few years. It was the beginning of my ongoing prayer journaling practice.
So yes. God met me at Starbucks.
I encourage you to see where God is pursuing you today. I’m willing to bet He’s right next to you, wherever you are.
faithuntamed 