God often speaks to us in whispers like the “still small voice” we read about in 1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV). Many times he unveils his plans, preparations, and purposes through the most unassuming people and in the most unassuming ways. Many years ago, I was preparing for a ministry opportunity at a large event I was looking forward to. I felt this was going to be a God moment in my life. But I was about to discover that it was not how I had envisioned it at all.
At the last minute, literally as l was walking toward the pulpit to minister, l was informed there had been a change of plans. I quickly returned no my seat. To say I was stunned at the seemingly spur-of-the-moment decision would be an understatement. Not only was I stunned, l was confused as well. On top of that, my feelings were hurt. I truly felt like my God moment had been pulled out from under me. How could that be? If it was really a God moment and it was really mine, how could someone make one decision and make it all disappear like a vapor?
I stayed for the remainder of the service, then returned to my hotel later that night. I would like to say how resilient l was in that moment, how I blew off the whole experience and bounced back like nothing had happened. But, in reality, that wasn’t the case at all. The struggle was real. It was more real than I care to admit.
I was young in ministry and not as confident in my calling as I would later become. A moment like I had just experienced had the potential to knock me off course before I even had the opportunity to get in the race. Through prayer, I had to wrestle down the thoughts I was feeling, while pleading with God to “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me” (Ps. 51:10 KJV). I could live without this ministry moment that I felt was stolen right out of my hands. I could also live without the person who stole it as well. What I couldn’t live without was having a clear line of communication between God and me. And for that to happen, l knew I had to let it go.
It wasn’t fair, but I had to let it go. It wasn’t right, but I had to let it go. And while standing there ironing a shirt to wear the next day, with tears rolling down my face, I made an intentional decision to do just that…let it go! I had tasted bitterness before, and it was not something I wanted to be a part of my everyday diet. I may have missed the opportunity, but I was determined not to miss the moment. Nothing I had experienced that day was worth my missing out on all the things I knew God had planned for me. And because of that one conscious decision to quiet my heart and trust him with the outcome, God leaned in my direction. As I stood at that ironing board, he said something to me I still remember to this very day. One sentence that totally reframed my thinking: “Sheryl, I’m the man in your life, and I will get every door for you!”
Suddenly it all started to make sense. My disappointment was not a dead end. What I thought I missed wasn’t the end of the story. From that day on, something shifted in my mind. I began to see God more and more as “the man in my life,” and a true gentleman at that. I can honestly say, from then until now, I watched him open more doors than I have even been able to walk through. When he says he will pour you out a blessing you will not have room to receive, he means it.
The truth is, a God moment can’t be stolen. What I thought was a missed moment was really a moment of insight. What God has for you is for you. It might not turn out the way we think it will, but trust me when I tell you he is in every second of every moment of every hour of every day working everything together for your good.
Sheryl Brady appears on LIFE TODAY this Monday. Taken from Don’t Miss The Moment by Sheryl Brady. Copyright ©2020 by Sheryl Brady Enterprises LLC. Used by permission of Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.
