He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:22
The New Year always brings fresh promise and hope for the future. And for me, it brings another year of marriage. John and I were married on New Years Eve ten years ago. Wow—a decade with the most wonderful man in the world. I still pinch myself.
And to think...I almost snubbed him.
I take no credit for this union. I would never have picked John. In fact, if it were up to me, I would have overlooked him entirely. It's not that my first impression of John was bad—he just seemed too ordinary for me. He was likeable in a brotherly sort of way, but his specs didn't match my list. You know the list I'm talking about. It may not be in writing, but all singles have one.
I wanted someone older, sophisticated and established. John was none of those. He was younger, a little on the goofy side (ok—a lot), and still in college. These were the exact opposites of the attributes I had ordered.
Everyday, I prayed for a mate according to Psalm 37:4, "God grant me the desires of my heart."
But unbeknownst to me, my effective prayers cancelled some of my wish list. Jeremiah 17:9 says that our hearts are deceitful and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I really didn't even know what my own heart longed for. Thankfully, God understood my yearnings better than I did. He searched the secret places of my heart and brought me a perfect treasure. And to think...if it wasn't for His light, I would have overlooked my diamond because I thought he was an ordinary hunk of coal.
I had to wonder how many times I did that in other areas of my life too—overlooked the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. Sometimes when God is in the mix of things, we are oblivious because we are looking for the spectacular. But diamonds come from the same stuff that coal and pencil lead is made of—ordinary carbon. What makes a diamond extraordinary is the way the atoms are assembled together. It's the arrangement of atoms that makes the bonds very strong. In fact, the word diamond comes from a Greek word that means unbreakable.
That's the way God works. He arranges the ordinary and makes things strong. I have to admit though—often in my own wisdom, His plans make no sense. But as I've grown in the Lord, I've seen it over and over again. He takes the foolish things and makes them grand. So, as you are making your resolutions for the new year, remember to consult God. Ask Him to reveal His plans to you. A revelation is so much stronger than a resolution. And when He illuminates your future, you will radiate. As you allow Him to direct your steps, the ordinary becomes extraordinarily strong.
Happy New Year to all of you. And to you, my darling husband, Happy Anniversary. You are my gift from God!
Prayer: Lord, help me to set aside my own plans for my life. I know that Your plans are far greater than anything I could ask, think or imagine. I thank you that You direct my steps. Please illuminate Your plans for the upcoming year to me and let me walk in the strength of Your will. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.