Expect God-things to Happen Every Day

Expect?

Yes, I expect from many sources. I hold expectations in my marriage. Or, for dreams to exceed my expectations. For employers to love my skills. And for readers to relate to my writing.

Perhaps you expect in your life too.

However, I confess: believing for the divine to occur every day is not easy for me.

Because the concept is hard for humans to wrap our heads around.

You see, we live and operate in the flesh, in the natural world.

Supernatural stuff only seems right for the movies or a book…or for heaven.

But what if divine, God-things are meant for us here on this earth? And what if the Lord intended for us to look for displays of His works in our day-to-day routine?

Psalm 105 in The Message describes it:

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…(Verses 1-6a).

Maybe we tell others of all the great things God has done for us. And we praise the Lord for every deed or blessing from His hand.

Yet, don’t miss the second vital part. The divine happens today and continues into tomorrow and the next day and the next.

This passage gives us 3 ways to expect the divine in our life.

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Hope Lives Closer Than You Think

I pointed out the window to a community in the country.

“My friend lives there.”

Jenny and I traveled early morning hours to attend a conference near the town I grew up in.

It’s interesting to know where friends or people we meet live and work and worship.

But what if we knew where hope lives?

Because life’s hurts, heartaches, and injustices often leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

Or, our dreams hunger for fulfillment.

Hope lives closer than you think.

Google defines hope, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” All humans hope.

• I hope to lose weight.
• My friend carries many hopes in her heart.
• The pastor said not to give up hope.
• We hope our brother pulls through this illness.

Yet, sometimes things happen differently than we wanted.

Hope exists in many forms. But when we cling to false hopes, they soon fizzle and leave us empty-handed.

Women often come to me—a pastor’s wife—looking for authentic hope. Did I pray enough? Where is God? Will He come through for me?

These are women in tough places. Hearts broken by tragedy. Languishing dreams with no pillow to lay their heads. And I nod saying, “Me too.”

Finding Where True Hope Lives

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2 Steps to a Steady Heart When We’re All Shook Up

All shook up.

I recently took our Dachshund, Sadie, to the veterinarian for yearly shots and a physical. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, all sixteen pounds of Sadie started shaking.

Often, she tries to make a beeline for the exit. And Sadie stays all shook up until we arrive home.

Decades ago, a song by Elvis conveyed a time when he was all shook up. By what? you may wonder.

A closer look at the lyrics and the mystery is solved. Falling in love shook up Elvis Presley.

Needless to say, his famous words relayed a kind of shook up we view in a good and positive light. Oh how Sadie wished for anything but the animal hospital.

All Shook Up

On the down-side, life gives us plenty of not-so-good reasons for when we are all shook up. I’ve experienced each one of these on my list below. Perhaps you have too.

• We lose a job.
• Our dear loved one passes away.
• Our child turns wayward and it turns our world upside down.
• We or family members receive a troubling medical diagnosis.
• Broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our inner joy and peace.
• Because of unmet dreams we sob into our pillow at bedtime.
• An injury inflicted upon our soul seems to never go away.

Each of these and others leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear.

2-step Plan for When We’re All Shook Up

Yet, in twenty short words, God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. It’s not by combing through lyrics to a love song. But this Scripture offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.

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Life’s Drive-through Window Lacks Hope

The drive-through window of life remains understocked with real hope.

Less than a mile from my family’s neighborhood, the same fast-food restaurant provides drive-through service at two different locations in opposite directions.

At the end of our road, we must make a decision.

Do we turn right or left?

To the right stands a newer version of the business established in the 1940’s.

But the same problem exists with both.

My son arrived home to discover an incorrect order. He’d ordered lunch, paid and waited. Yet later found his bag filled with breakfast items. The scent of sausage instead of chicken frustrated him.

Since my husband and I have had similar experiences, I check everything before driving away. Opening each bag, wrapper, or container. It assures I’m leaving with what I expected…what I wanted.

And I never want to wait. I want service and I want it pronto (the culture in which we live). Impatience tempered with social manners. Please! I’m in a hurry!

Life’s Drive-through Window 

In the same way, life’s crossroads force me to park and stay a while. They keep me bewildered about whether to go right or left and wondering if I’ll leave the next place with what I expected, all the items I wanted. So, I grow weary in the waiting.

Here’s the problem with life’s drive-through window.

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Looking for Something? Hope? Peace? Or?

Looking for something?

Because we look for things everyday.

When our husband questions the whereabouts of black dress socks or a t-shirt (hopefully not to wear together).

Or our teen wonders where the car keys are.

We try to locate our cell phone.

Maybe it’s the pen we need to jot down an important note.

Perhaps our toddler misplaces her favorite toy (this makes for a traumatic day).

And the needed spice for dinner’s main dish is somewhere in this kitchen.

But not only are we in need of tangible stuff to function in our daily routine. Our souls look for the intangible items that make life full and meaningful.

Here’s 8 things we often look for and what God’s Word says about each.

Looking for Hope? 

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5

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