I have been on this Christian journey for 15 years now. It has been full of peaks, valleys, and plateaus. I have experienced the grace and mercy of GOD in phenomenal ways and there have been times that I wondered if GOD even cared.
At one point in time, there was an issue that I had gone to different doctors about for at least two years, all to no avail. I endured painful treatments from doctors and myself, but it was all in vain. One day, I literally cried out to GOD and my issue that doctors could not solve in years was healed within 8 hours.
That indeed was a “mountaintop” experience. If there was any doubt of GOD caring or being near, GOD spoke with a loud voice and reassured me.
However, recently, GOD impacted me in a major way through a small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). I was submitting a prayer request to a dear brother at 6:00 AM in a Walmart parking lot. I was venting about how I was weary from stressing over every dollar spent.
I was not exaggerating about “every dollar spent,” as I was about to purchase a tall coffee from Starbucks, which after using a gift card, meant I was going to have to spend a dollar or less of my own money to complete the purchase (tall coffee = small coffee in Starbucks vernacular).
On my three minute drive from Walmart to Starbucks, I was literally stressing over spending that dollar. Some may say, “Well, you did not HAVE TO purchase the coffee.” I definitely agree with you to a point, but stressing over dollar seemed irrational. I work hard to provide for my family, can I not spend a dollar on a small coffee every now and then?
To keep a short story short, I walked into Starbucks with a man and his child, still stressing over the dollar I was about to spend. We both had just witnessed a minor accident which opened the door for some small talk while in line. While he is ordering in front of me, another barista asked for and prepared my order. I was waiting to pay when he says, “Go ahead man, I got you.”
Five minutes prior I was submitting a prayer request about stressing over spending a dollar. Before those words came out of that gentleman’s mouth, as I was waiting to pay, I was still stressing over that dollar. My brother, who was going to be praying for me, had not even received my message that contained the prayer request. And GOD (if I was preaching I would say, “But GOD!”) spoke in a still small voice, “My child, I got you.”
GOD is the GOD of the hills AND the GOD of the valleys. HE can speak thunderously and in a still small voice.
Grace and peace.
(Photo by Ross Varrette)
