On the shelf in my office is a box of ribbon candy. There’s
a card taped to it with somebody else’s name on it. The staff a my favorite
Waffle House gave me the gift…because their district manager didn’t stop by to
pick it up.
It’s a gift, but it wasn’t meant for me.
I could open it up
and eat it. But, I don’t know if I could really enjoy it because I know that it
was intended for someone else.
That’s how I feel about God’s promises sometimes. Sure He
loves me. He has to because of that “for God so loved the world” thing. But, most
of the time, it feels like a gift to the world. Not necessarily a gift to me.
I was thinking about that all day yesterday. How I have such
an easy time believing God’s promises for YOU. But, struggle to believe them
for myself.
And then, about 6:30pm, the UPS truck pulled up in my
driveway.
He approached the door with a large brown box with my name
on it.
I knew I hadn’t ordered anything and my mind raced to figure
out what was in the box. My five year old squealed with excitement as we laid
the box in the living room floor and began to cut through taped corners to
reveal the contents.
What I pulled from the box, took my breath away.
My artist friend had painted a stunning picture of my little
girl on the beach.
You can appreciate the colors, the artisitry. But, you
cannot appreciate and love this painting as much as I do because it’s of my
girl.
In that moment, I experienced God.
See, God was whispering to my heart….Carol, the promises that
I give to you are not a gift with someone else’s name on them. They are FOR
YOU. A gift designed with you in mind. Carefully chosen to delight and comfort
YOU. My promises are for YOU.
So, today as I reflect on the box of candy that wasn’t for
me…and the painting that is intimately mine, I am choosing to believe in a God
who knows just what I need. A God who has promises just for me. For you too. Believe them.
4 comments:
Awesome! Ok, I will believe them and not the lies from that nasty stealer, killer & destroyer! <3. Aimee Pence
I'm so thankful for the personal way God revealed His love for you. What a beautiful testimony, Carol.
Amen and amen!! I love the way He lavished His love on you...and your precious baby girl!
Love you!!!
I can not even express how much this spoke to my heart today. Thank you so much for writing this and sharing it. I too feel this way but have never really expressed it but reading it I realized that is how I feel and it holds me back so much from really accepting God's love for me truly in my heart. Bless you my dear and what a beautiful picture!! B
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