God Is Always In Our Crisis… Hello Hump Day readers. I hope your Memorial Day holiday was one of joy and also one of honoring our soldiers who gave their lives to keep us safe. The campground was filled, folks were enjoying fishing, boating, swimming, etc. But one thing stood out—their salute to the half-staff American flag. In times of crisis, these brave men and women were there for us, willing to give it all. So, let’s talk about crisis today…

Do you recite your woes more naturally than you do heaven’s strength? No wonder life’s tough. You’re assuming God isn’t in this crisis. Below is a story from Pastor Max Lucado’s book: You’ll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Turbulent Times. This particular story always hits me. In our turbulent world and the almost daily crisis going on, I hope this story can remind us all that in our crisis—no matter what it is—God is right in the middle of it!

“Isabel spent her first three and a half years in a Nicaraguan orphanage. As with all orphans, her odds of adoption diminished with time. And then the door slammed on her finger. Why would God permit this innocent girl to feel even more pain? Might he be calling the attention of Ryan Schnoke sitting in the playroom nearby? You see, he and his wife had been trying to adopt a child for months. Then Ryan walked over, picked her up, and comforted her. Several months later, Ryan and Christina were close to giving up, and Ryan remembered Isabel. The couple went through the process of adoption and now ‘Little Isabel’ is growing up in a happy, healthy home.”

OK, you might ask the question “would God really slam the door on a little girl’s finger?” I don’t have that answer, only God does. But think about it: this couple were in a crisis of not being able to have a child and wanted to adopt one in Nicaragua where orphans died daily. Could that slam-on-the finger be God’s way to wake up Ryan and Christina from the woes and worries of never having a child? Could that slam-on-the-finger be a gift for little Isable who was alone and afraid?

What do you do in the middle of a crisis? Often we try to find different ways to get out of it instead of trying God first! How many times do we get that ‘slam-on-the-finger’ and ignore it, deciding that we can take care of this crisis on our own? I can tell you that I’ve done it and it doesn’t work. One time I was on my snowmobile late at night in a white-out. I didn’t see a large buck until he ran over me—literally flying over me—and I crashed into a tree. Broke my nose, some ribs and I sat there crying and saying “I’m done.” Just then, the doe came over the road-she stopped-looked at me with eyes of care and then went on. Sounds dumb, but I think God sent her to me to look into her caring eyes to remind me God was in my crisis. And God gave me the strength to walk home—6 miles in a flurry of snow and I was OK.

Two Scriptures from my “deer episode” always stay with me: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” -John 14:27 (NLT) And here’s my favorite from the Message Bible: “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” [Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG]

A finger in the door? God doesn’t manufacture pain, but God certainly puts it to use! So remember: in your time of crisis you are not alone. God is smack in the middle of it and you will get through it because you have a Savior who loves you and can do the impossible anywhere-anytime—even through the eyes of a deer or a slammed finger! AMEN.