New Opportunities
We received a big fat NO this week! It was heartbreaking and left us trying to figure out what to do next. I was sharing all the details with the lady cutting my hair today (this is where I receive some of my most valuable therapy) and she began to give me a talk, a lesson—no a sermon, because she spoke with the conviction and heart of a pastor and I hung on every word as she spoke to me through the salon mirror and continued to trim my hair.
“ The problem is that you don’t know what the word NO means. Do you know what the word NO means? I was afraid to answer because she had just told me I didn’t. NO means New Opportunities. You see nothing gets past our God. He's bringing about His perfect will in HIs perfect time and He's preparing you for the next challenge. Get ready-- because this won't be the last NO. You see, He holds us in His hand and while we think we know how He is going to work something out… He is the only one who sees the whole story. But don’t you worry—He's holding you and you are holding him. You carry the power of His word.
Do you know what I mean when I say power of His word? I didn’t answer, I just looked at her wide eyed. It’s your weapon to fight the worst kinds of evil and it’s the promises that give you the strength to stand against the worst kinds of evil. Because if you write His words on your heart then you know who you are and no one can mess with you.”
As she was finishing up my hair, I began to reflect and her definition of NO and God’s word to me, to these girls and New Hope. The words of the song that so often plays in my head began to permeate in a new way. “I know who goes before her. I know who stands behind. The God of angel armies is right there by her side.”