“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29: 11
“Maybe God wants you to go without us!” My mom was in panic mode. My recently converted dad was feeling a strong call from God to attend a Bible school four hours away from our home. We lived in a beautiful seaside resort on the south coast of England, surrounded by relatives and all things comfortable, but my dad felt sure our family of five should relocate. My mom was not convinced.
I was an impressionable pre-teen at the time, and I remember the icy atmosphere that enveloped us that day on the beach. The stress was palpable, and the thought of my dad living apart from us surely couldn’t be God’s will. In spite of the glorious sunny day, the temperature plummeted when my dad came in from swimming in the ocean- without his wedding ring! It had disappeared into the depths, and my mom saw it as God’s lightening bolt- Dad was supposed to go without us! Despite our joint efforts in searching the sandy bottom of the sea, our return home that night was one of despondency and confusion.
The following day, we returned to the same beach, with some extra reinforcements -my best friend and her brother, who were clueless as to the significance of the missing ring! The tide had been in and out, and the packed beach seemed to laugh at the sight of us as we waded back into the ocean to continue our search. I cannot begin to describe the joy, relief and shock on our faces when, hours later, my friend’s little brother held a circle of gold in the air! It was Dad’s ring- defying the pull of the tide and trampling feet of a multitude of beach-lovers, God had given us our very own miracle! Needless to say, we were all on our way to Wales….
I will always remember God’s providence and faithfulness to us that day. We were just baby Christians, and He needed to make our path very clear, showing how much He loved us and wanted the very best for our family. When He calls and we walk in obedience, we can rest in the knowledge that He knows the beginning and the end, and He gives us “hope and a future” with every single detail lovingly cared for by Him.
It’s down to us to accept the challenge- can we put our complete faith in the God of the Universe, and obediently follow the perfectly crafted plan He has for our lives?
(Published in Christian Devotions U.S.)
