{Lessons Learned} Get Over That Hurdle

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. – 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

The door shut. I was presented with a significant hurdle.

Lord, I thought You wanted me to bring Anthony a Bible, I prayed. How can I bring him a Bible if I can’t visit him?

I held the letter from the warden I received that afternoon. He denied my application to visit Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. Still, I knew what I knew.

I knew Jesus called me to forgive Anthony.

I knew Jesus called me to love Anthony, my enemy.

I knew Jesus called me to have contact with Anthony.

Of these things, I was sure.

What I didn’t know was how it would play out, now that I couldn’t go see him.

Every journey Jesus calls us on is coupled with resistance and difficulty. Roadblocks and hurdles are sure to come. At first glance, it seems these obstructions indicate we’re on the wrong path. But, rest assured. Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will.

In fact, the greatest endeavors we’re called to will most likely be the most difficult things we do. [Tweet that]

What I didn’t know when I received the denial letter from the warden is that the path Jesus forged for me to take would look far different than the one I imagined it to be. But it was this path that led both Anthony and I to a place of deep healing and forgiveness which was not possible any other way, and I am unbelievable thankful Jesus allowed that hurdle to be placed in my way.

Oftentimes, God places circumstances to steer us onto the path He has for us. But don’t allow these difficulties to derail you. With prayerful consideration, you must choose to press forth and get over that hurdle.

Blessings await you on the other side.

{Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will.}

What hurdles have you had to overcome along the way?

Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

To read more about the warden’s denial read When Doors Shut.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} When It Just Doesn’t Make Sense

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9

“It just doesn’t make sense,” I said. “I know what God’s calling me to do. I know I need to bring Anthony a bible. But he probably already has one; He claimed to be a Christian at the time of the murder. What good will this do?”

I began to pray for clarity; I prayed for grace to follow despite the fact that none of what I was being called to made sense. Ultimately, it was given.

I sent an email to a friend at the time and wrote:

Frankly, I have no idea to what purpose God would send me there to see [Anthony]…All that I know is that God seems to be leading me in this way, and I feel like I need to follow Him. Crazy? Yes! But sometimes God calls us to do certain things that don’t seem to add up at the time.

Though I had a lot of support from those around me, many didn’t understand what I was doing. Many advised me against it. Still, I knew Jesus was calling me down this path, and I was determined to follow.

Much of what “the world” tells us is turned on its head when Jesus gets involved. [Tweet that.]

Oftentimes, what He calls us to doesn’t make sense.

I sought peace. Jesus called me to interact with the man who murdered my dad.

I sought healing. Jesus called me to go to the darkest recesses of my soul and relive the most difficult time in my life.

It all seems so counterintuitive. But as Isaiah 55:9 states, God’s ways are not our ways. So, when you hear Jesus call, don’t rely upon your own logic. But instead, once assured it’s Jesus leading, simply follow.

{Sometimes the things God calls us to won’t make sense, but we must still follow.}

What has Jesus called you to do that didn’t make sense at first?

Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} God is Bigger

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

As I began writing this, a song came to mind. I have two little girls, and for a long time, they loved Veggie Tales, and they loved the song “God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man.”

It’s a catchy tune.

But in all seriousness, this truth was pivotal in my walk with God, and even now, I have to remind myself that God is bigger than whatever is going on in my life, and that I can trust Him with all that I have and all that I am.

He’s bigger than my fears. He’s bigger than whatever situation I find myself in. He’s bigger than my past and my past hurts, as well as my past successes or failures. He’s bigger than my future and what trials or achievements may come.

He’s bigger than my enemies. He’s bigger than Satan and evil. God is bigger than my sin and my fleshly desires.

But what’s most comforting to me is that God is even bigger than my resistance. He’s bigger than my will and my rebellious nature.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Romans 8:37-39

Indeed, God is bigger.

{We are safe in His loving arms.}

Are you ever tempted to allow your situation or anything else loom larger than the God, who is in control of all things?

Join in the discussion. Leave a comment.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.