I stumbled upon an old Bible that I had in high school—neatly tucked away with a few of my other treasures from years ago. You know, the high school yearbook, past theater t-shirts, favorite scripts and photo albums: things I didn’t want to discard because they held value and brought back memories but certainly items I was not going to look at each day. When I moved into my house twelve years ago, I neatly stored them out of the way. I knew where they were, but I didn't go looking for them. Truthfully, I hadn't touched these items for more than a decade.
It was Christmas break for this teacher. You know, those magnificent two weeks off when you get so much done. It's cold and wintery -- so true nesting begins. Add that into a vast array of seasonal activities and the excitement of the impending holiday, and it easily becomes my favorite time of the year. At this point, I had cleaned my house and relaxed enough from the hustle and bustle of the school year that I began looking for projects. So: I went on a scavenger hunt through my past.
Which led me to a bin of items from high school. Which included my old Bible.
This Bible wasn’t THE Bible of my high school years, but for some reason, I kept it. I’m a ‘color-coding, write as many notes in the margin as you can’ kind of gal, but this Bible had barely anything written inside—so unlike me. I kept flipping through the pages, and something caught my eye: a solo post-it note stuck to the inside front cover.
It was definitely my hand-writing. I recognized that bubbly font outlined by flowers drawn by high-school Cindy.
The note read: ‘The more impossible your circumstance seems, the more glory God will receive when your situation is rectified.'
I read it again. And again. INSTANT TEARS.
‘The more impossible your circumstance seems, the more glory God will receive when your situation is rectified.’ //Charles Stanley
A note from the past tucked away to find RIGHT NOW in the present.
Who knew that I needed to hear those words at this moment? GOD DID.
GOODBYE, 17 YEAR OLD SELF.
And now here I was: sitting on the carpeted floor mesmerized by these words-- the same girl, mind you. College had past, grad school was finished. I was 10 years into a teaching career that made high school feel like a distant memory. Same kid, same heart -- just older. I now knew a little more about the world and it's struggles. I had seen good railroaded. I had seen firsthand that hurt and disappointment lurked through my school hallways to my own subdivision. I had witnessed lives changed for the good and noticed those who were living through a constant season of struggle. Highs, lows. Mountains, valleys: trouble followed by an eventual break redeemed with a hope from above.
As I sat there holding that note, I felt the warmest embrace. It was my Heavenly Father reminding me that He saw every moment I faced. He was there 20 years ago when I scribbled down this note. He was there as one season shifted into a new beginning -- and specifically, at this Christmas, He was present as my world seemed to feel insurmountable -- ever shifting and changing.
I couldn't have even coordinated that if I tried.
This note was equivalent to stumbling upon a treasure pristinely set aside 20 years ago to be opened at this exact moment in time: what an orchestrated gift.
HE'S PRESENT IN THE DETAILS.
I am choosing to believe that our HUGE, omniscient God is present in the details. That as BIG as He is, He cares about the small moments -- those small moments that make us shift our glance upward. Those moments that you just know that it's Him. It’s moments like this that I’m mentally setting up as a 'memorial stones' moment—moments I do not want to forget: moments of His faithfulness.
The same God that was faithful yesterday still adores me today. That is GOOD NEWS. He cares for you the same way that He cares for me -- and it's unconditional and without time limits. Let that truth sink in!
I am choosing to remember His faithfulness. So you know what? I painted that Bible. I gave it a fresh new coat with bright colors.
Now the outside shines as brightly as what is in the inside—just like God is doing in me.
God -- let me always be aware of YOU. Let me remember that You are ever-present in the details --that You care enough to even be involved in the details!! Things that seem small to me are BIG when I view them with You in mind. Thank you that you are a faithful God. Thank you that You are faithful when I am not, for You cannot deny Yourself. I am grateful for moments like this that remind me of Your constant love and affection. Please let me never forget them. God, go with me and before me. Guide my steps and my mindset. In your loving name, AMEN.
