Stripped: Trusting God When He Allows Others to Hurt Youনমুনা

THE HINDSIGHT

I opened the door to the hotel room to find that the wall that faced towards the ocean was made entirely of glass. I had a front-row seat from the comfort of the room to look for the northern lights. As I stepped into the room, the strangest thing occurred. I knelt to pray and thank the Lord, when suddenly He began to show me mental images in a series of flashbacks of the previous 20 years, all the way back to a day I was praying and asking God to guide my life. I saw my 17 year-old self praying at the radio station I worked at, trying to decide what to study in college and how that aligned with God’s calling for me. I had perceived the Holy Spirit’s guidance in that moment as simply, Leave it to me, I’ll lead you.

For many years, I questioned that moment, wondering if I had been carried away by the zeal of my youth and passion for the Lord in some of life’s most crucial decisions and choices. I had wrestled with doubts, resisted His guidance, challenged the route He led me on, and complained about the process. But in that hotel room, it all became instantly clear and the love I felt from my Father was enough to satisfy and silence my questions and fears.

God prompted me to let the ‘elephant’ exit the room. When He spoke about bringing me back to the place I was before, He was talking about my relationship with Him. Going back to that place of my youth where I trusted Him completely. Where nothing was impossible. I saw myself preaching in the streets of Spain, singing my heart out in schools in Venezuela, praying for the sick in crowded hospital rooms in the Dominican Republic, dancing for the Lord in the temple before anyone arrived... and so many other memories of the abundant life I knew with Him. The adventure that is to walk in intimacy with our Maker.

I needed to return to the place where I had sought Him with all my heart, mind, and soul. Where being with Him was what mattered most to me. It was time to trust Him again and leave the weight of disappointments behind.

I stood right on top of hindsight in that room, realizing that the detours and incomprehensibles of life were still very much under His command and purposes for me. I had not ruined His plans or my future. Indeed, He had led me, surrounding me with beauty, love, provision, and the tenderness of a God who delights in dwelling with His children. He took me almost to the north pole to help me understand that nothing in this world could ever separate me from His love.

That night, in the peace that came from His presence and alone under the magnificent Milky Way, I joined the northern lights as they danced and praised the Creator of heaven and earth. How could He be so powerful and yet so personal at the same time?

Who are we that this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would know our names? It’s true, we are known by Him! He longs for us to follow and trust Him and delights in revealing Himself to those who call on His name.

Things in my life had changed, people had changed, I had changed, but He was the same. He is faithful. He can be trusted. He is love. He never changes.

Remembering Joseph and the kindness of my Savior who used his story and what I have covered in this devotional to heal my heart, I smiled. He taught me to trust Him in the unexpected and the meantime, adorning my path with grace and mercy so I could walk through the desert, blessed in the land of my suffering. And when I thought He had forgotten me, He had been incontestably busy sewing a new garment for me—He removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

THE NEW MINDSET

That trip was one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life. I expected that upon my return home, something life-altering would happen in a matter of days. Something like Joseph’s “take a shower and shave because the king is calling you” day. However, it was quite the opposite.

I lost my talent agent, was overlooked for dozens of promotions and positions I applied for at work, I had to let go of dreams and goals I had for 20 years of working for a particular ministry, raising my children became harder by the minute, and days were dishearteningly hard. But something was different in me.

I was no longer dressed in a garment of broken patches. I was walking forward with a new mindset, new clothes, new hope, and with the extravagant exclamation point to end my winter that God gifted me in Iceland.

Exactly one year later I went back to Iceland accompanied by my daughters. I wanted to take them to the place where I had experienced God so intimately and together record a music video for the song I wrote that life-changing week exactly 12 months earlier. Once more, He gave me art to convey the beauty of what His grace produced out of my ashes.

We recorded this meaningful soundtrack about my life and what I learned over the years and God, in His kindness, provided a way for us to get there and celebrate His goodness. We were even able to use a video clip I recorded during that terrible snowstorm the year before!

I wrote the song in Spanish, and the chorus translates to:

And now I see

the beauty you designed for me

That brokenness was the proof of your love

that delivered me

The tender embrace of my God

who was jealous for me

I dance again,

I sing again,

Because your grace is like Iceland in early spring

My friend, I am as flawed and human as everyone; messed up like Joseph’s family. These experiences are not exclusive to some of God’s children. I don’t pretend to have everything figured out. In fact, I still have extremely hard days. But this is not about me or Abraham, or Isaac, Jacob or Joseph.

Anyone who seeks Him, will find Him.

Anyone who calls, will receive an answer.

His grace, love, kindness, mercy, power, and provision are available to all who draw near. To anyone who chooses Him above everything.

This is the invitation from heaven to hear the voice of the God of the desert, the God who desires to show Himself powerful and faithful to those who are wholeheartedly devoted to Him. He is glorified through our stories and uses them, like Joseph’s, as a light in a hurting world.

There is hope for you. There is healing, there is peace, there is a God that can transform what the enemy meant for evil and turn it into blessings. God always wins.

Take heart, run after Him closely, and watch His astonishing tapestry unfold. If you choose Him, He will sew you a new garment, an unparalleled, bespoke robe.

It is guaranteed: your story doesn’t end in stripping... your story ends in fine linen.

To meditate:

• How do you relate to the story of the tunnel in Iceland?
• What are God’s mercies in disguise in your life?
• What was the final destination you had in mind? Do you need to go back to a place of intimacy with Jesus?
• What are your ‘elephants in the room’? Anger? Disappointments? Distrust?
• Have you come to a place of hindsight? What is your new mindset?

Have you trusted Jesus with your entire life and invited Him to be your Savior? If you haven’t yet, but would like to, ask Him in your own words or use the following prayer as a guide:

“Father, I have been on a long journey. I am tired and in need of you. I ask that you give me new life through Jesus Christ and forgive all my sins. I recognize you are God and I believe that Jesus is the truth and the life. I open my heart to you and ask that you lead me every day. Write my name in your book of life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I surrender all my past, pain, sorrow, anger, and brokenness. Make me whole in you. Transform my story and show me how to live for you. Thank you for receiving me as your child. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you have a prayer request or this plan blessed you, we want to hear from you! Email us at aperture812@gmail.com. We will pray for you and do our best to respond to emails.