Flaming Arrows Missed This Target

Last week was filled with expectations, excitement and joy; right up until Thursday night’s book signing.

Have you ever been there? Worked so hard and believed with all you’re might this was your time to shine? A plan finally coming together as you had dreamed? You can hardly contain your excitement? Only to have it dashed right in front of your eyes?

It was if I had built my entire future upon this one night. How sad and wrong is that? I had just read that morning, beware of the evil ones arrows, they are piercing and will aim to hit you where you can be hurt the most.

Ephesians 6:16- In addition to all this, Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Don’t get me wrong; I am so grateful for the five people who came out and supported me. Yes you heard me right five people.

We live in a time when the world is pulling us from here to there. We never seem to have a spare minute.

We have great plans to come out and attend events for friends and family but let’s face it’ life happens. I know I’ve had to cancel at the last minute more than once when something else came up. I feel bad and try to avoid this, but sometimes. You just can’t make it.

Trust me, I’m not upset with anyone who didn’t come. That’s not what this is about.

It’s about not letting our faith get shaken when things don’t go according to our plans. Did you hear that? Our plans…My plans.

God uses times like this to test our faith and build us up to be the person He sees in us. Not what we see. (Failure)

He works more on our foundation and principles. We have studied and maybe even quote the word. But are we really practicing it? Hearing it? Applying it?

Was I going to worship him in song in my pain as David did? Was I going to give Him the glory he deserves despite my upset?

It didn’t come easy or natural. I was upset and depressed most of Friday.

I chose to read my bible, praying constantly and searching for answers. I thanked God for His goodness. I asked him again for clarification on His will for my life.

What He had done on the cross for me was more than enough thanks for a lifetime. I didn’t deserve it, I couldn’t earn it, but He chose to forgive me anyway.

As the day progressed I received a call from my doctor. He had some sample pills for me to pick up.

The last thing I wanted to do was to leave my home and the comfort of my PJ’s.

My prescription is mail order and I only had two more left, no choice here. Had to be done.

The 20 sample pills he gave me would hold me over until mine arrived. These are like liquid gold. That’s why I didn’t get them from a local pharmacy.

Those 20 pills represent over $300.00. Mail order I get 90 pills for $43.00 from Canada. Same thing, same company just not on our US plan.

So now with this huge blessing of liquid gold. It was time to get out of my PJ’s and put on sweats and T-shirt and drive. I didn’t bother with makeup, only running in to pick it up and leave. I know you ladies know what I’m talking about here.

Praising God in your pain is one thing. But dressing up or putting on makeup was still a bit too much for me this day.

As I got into my car it’s always turned to Christian music. The song playing was one of my favorites from years past. Casting Crowns “I’ll praise you in this storm”

So I sang in my loudest car voice choking back the tears. As I belted out the words

“As the thunder rolls I barley hear you whisper through the rain “I’m with you” and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

I’ll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for you are who you say you are, are no matter where I am. Even though my heart is torn, I’ll praise you in this storm.”

I did start to feel better, more hopeful. I’m not kidding you. Every song that came on had a message of hope and walking through storms of life and look for the lessons. So that’s what I set out to do. Look at this a new way.

I arrived home, very thankful I wouldn’t run out of a much needed prescription and it cost me nothing!

Picked up the mail and couldn’t believe my eyes. I had a check from my home equity line that said I had overpaid years ago and had a credit. It was just now found and they were sending me the money back.

Now I can’t tell you how this happened, I’m very meticulous in my bookkeeping and this has never happened before. My home equity loan was paid off more than three years ago.

This check more than covered my costs of the books as well as the cookies, waters, printing for the book signing.

Again. God showing me His favor when I am at my lowest point but chose to praise Him in my storm.

I had two choices here now.

1. Share His glory and what I learned

2. Hide my shame in only having five people come out for my book signing. Pretend it never happened or just say. Oh it went well.

Just because I’ve had what I would consider a huge failure and disappointment doesn’t mean that God sees it this way.

He has a reason for every action. He didn’t change His mind about me or my calling.

He chose to bless me in my storm and teach me again about not wearing masks or worrying about what cannot be seen.

Don’t hide your pain, let others see they are not alone. We all have lessons we can learn from and help others with.

Hiding our failures and fears only hurts us. It keeps our light hidden and can be a stumbling block for others.

I chose to shine my imperfect light whenever I’m given the chance. No more mask to hide behind.

He reminded me HE is in control. His plans no one can stop, not even the fiery arrows of the evil one. I am to believe in his promises.

I am to praise Him in all my storms and let Him lead.

We will have ups and downs in this life. How we handle them is up to us.

How will you handle your next storm? Will you hide it or will you share and learn from it? All of us have a purpose and a reason for our pain. Chose to use yours for God.

Leave me a comment on what God has taught you during your storms of life.

2 Corinthians 6:3-4- We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance.