crisis averted

i can't tell you what the crisis was, but let me just tell you how brilliantly elizabeth and i handled it. we calmly accepted the situation, realized that freaking out would not change the circumstances, and talked rationally about how we could deal with the problem at hand. we came up with various solutions, and after doing what we could do to alter the situation, we trusted that it would work out. and it did! thus: crisis averted.

jesus spoke to my heart through this ordinary moment. beloved, approach every "storm" this way. no need to fret. i'm in control.

it's funny that this little heart lesson came up today, because this morning i was reading in acts 15. i underlined verse 18 about seven times:

known to god from eternity are all his works.

what a relief and comfort to know that nothing ever surprises god. people and situations shock the heck out of me (quite frequently, i might add), but jesus is never taken by surprise. he never has to come up with a "plan b." his plan is always perfect, always for my good, and always completed.

in scripture i'm reminded of when jesus fed the 5,000. jesus was preaching to the multidtude - 5,000 men. this number doesn't include the women and children. the actual number could have been more like 12,000. the disciples realize that they have nothing to feed this large crowd - nothing but five loaves of bread and two fish.

1. they recognized a problem.

2. they gave it to jesus.

3. they took action.

the 5,000+ people were fed; not only were they fed, they were stuffed, and there were leftovers. and the beautiful thing about this story is that god knew this situation would arise from the beginning - since he was god. the disciples didn't catch him off guard when they explained that they were a little short on food. god knew how he was going to solve the problem before the problem existed.

sound familiar? how sweet it is to serve a god who solves our problems before we encounter them. thank you, jesus, for having a solution to our sin problem before we were even breathed into existence.

the lord is teaching me so many things lately. by no means am i mastering any of it, but he's teaching me, and i'm begging him to change my heart and to help me learn it and apply it - and to keep teaching me.

it's encouraging to see and feel and know that jesus is working in my heart and in my life. it means he really is alive! and it means that i'm in a place where i'm teachable. as someone who is stubborn and difficult and often puffed up by my pride, this is an exciting place to be. i'm praying for grace to keep me here, on my knees, at the foot of the cross.