It’s not my story;
It’s your story, Father, so help me tell it well…
Hello blog world. I hope you all are doing well. I am
writing to you from Bloomington, Minnesota—the place I have called home now for
11 years. Abigail approached me about 3 months ago to write a post, and I have
had several ideas swirling around in my head, but nothing was making its way in coherent form on paper. This weekend, God solidified in me what I hope will be
an encouragement to you.
My husband, Jamie, and I work with college students at
Normandale Community College, and this weekend was the winter retreat. In the
first session together my friend Ben shared his testimony. Ben came to
follow Jesus as a teenager, and at least from my perspective, he was given a
very special gift. Ben shared with us that while he didn’t have full
understanding of who or what he was deciding to follow, he did feel a deep
conviction that God was good, God was real, and God loved him. These
convictions have stayed with him as he has followed Jesus, and they have been
the guide as he wrestles and works through all the ramifications of his
salvation, and what that means for life on planet earth. Wow! What a gift!
I hope you share in Ben’s experience. I hope when you are
confronted with struggles and questions in this life the truth of God’s
existence, His goodness, and His love for you have always been resolved. This
conviction would eliminate any contrary thinking, and allow you to work on
top of that foundation. That is amazing. If by chance, and I feel like there
are a lot of us, you are anything like me these truths have not always been so
easily resolved.
I am pretty sure I can say I have always believed God to be
real. Growing up in the faith, it is all I have ever known, so that one has not
been as difficult. But I have most assuredly doubted God’s goodness, and I have
definitely questioned His love for me over the years. Praise be to the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit- the most patient of teachers, who’s full of grace and
truth! He has walked, and taught, and encouraged, and displayed, and walked,
and re-taught, and encouraged, and displayed, and walked, and re-taught, and
encouraged, and displayed until these truths have been resolved deep down in my
bones: God is real, God is good, and God sure does love me a lot.
If you lived close, I would take the time to share how God
has done this over the years. It would take many, many chats in front of the
fireplace of my home, or sitting on my favorite red Adirondack chairs out
front, or sharing a sweet cinnamon roll treat at my favorite place in
Minneapolis (seriously, so delicious). And the truth is, even then, I probably
couldn’t scratch the surface with how faithful God has been to teach me in my
journey. So today I choose to share one thing He gave me about 10 years ago. It still serves as my reminder how God is so very, very good
and He loves me so very, very much. I like to call them “Sweet Things”.
Sweet Things came
to me in a season of great doubt in my life. Jamie and I had just moved from
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, to Minnesota, believing God had called us to a new
ministry here. The time leading up to the move was difficult, but exhilarating! We were taking a big leap of faith and that was HUGE for me. I did not take risks.
I liked to have control, but in this season, God’s hand was clear, so we stepped out. I remember getting a letter from my sister-in-law recounting to
me the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. She encouraged me by
pointing out God was faithful to his people in parting the waters AFTER the
priests had led the people with that all-important, sometimes-terrifying first
step into the rushing water. I left Pennsylvania ready to see God part the
waters and lead us to our promised land. Something probably
happened in the heavenly realms, but it felt more like the waters picked up momentum, and I was drowning. Great.
Shortly after we moved, I joined a women’s Bible study. I
was one of the younger ladies in the group and we were going to work through
the study Jesus the One and Only by
Beth Moore. Not too far into the study, we were asked to think about how God’s
sovereignty and his sweetness worked together. I had to pause before I answered
that question. I had heard a lot about God being sovereign. God has ultimate
control of all that is, He is supreme. But I had never considered, or even
contemplated him, as sweet. If you think about it, sovereignty without
sweetness (or goodness) is kind of scary. I lived in that place for a long time
with God. He was sovereign, and I was scared. But seeing his sovereignty WITH
goodness is tender, is perfect, is trustworthy…is a perfect Heavenly Father.
God began to teach me He is good, and He loves me through Sweet Things. I define Sweet Things as the little (and big)
blessings God gives to us that speak right to our unique hearts. They undeniably make Him known in ways that are so personal, so intimate, and so
tender to us that only the one “who formed us in our mother’s womb” could know.
They remind me He is present. He is near. I am heard. I am seen. He
is good, and I am loved. Sweet Things are perfectly timed phone calls, text
messages, letters, or cards. Sweet Things show up in a sunrise or a song on the
radio. Sweet Things are gifts at just the moment you need them. Maybe
just as you were beginning to doubt. They all scream God is real, God is
good, God is love.
During that time just after we moved, God did so many Sweet
Things, and He often used so many sweet people to do it. Each time He would
show up in that way the truth became more and more resolved in me. Each time I
faced a season of doubt it seemed to grow shorter, as I had begun to
accumulate a long record of God’s faithfulness through Sweet Things.
My next great challenge following the Minnesota move was my
sister-in-law’s battle with cancer, and her eventual passing. Certain lies that
had not surfaced in a while came zooming back to the forefront, but again, God
appeared in Sweet Things. And again, He reminded me He is good and He loves me.
The night I had to say my final earthly goodbye to my sweet sister-in-law was easily the most difficult thing I have EVER done in my entire life. He
brought one of my very dear friends to the hospital to stand beside me
(distract me). The beautiful thing was, there was a lot of family around so I wasn't thinking about needing anyone else, but God knew more than I did. I needed a good friend. She gave me strength just by her sheer presence. Sweet Thing! I
can’t tell you how sweet it was to have her there. God knew I needed her. He is
sovereign and sweet.
As with any of God’s gifts to us, they are never meant for
us to hoard or keep to ourselves. We are to hold onto them with open hands,
willing to share them with others who may need them. I feel that way about
Sweet Things. Sharing Sweet Things with people, and them sharing theirs with
me only adds to my conviction. God is real, and good, and loves- not just me,
but you. He hears you and He sees you. If you are willing, He will show you His
sovereignty and His sweetness, and He will teach you that He is real, and He is
so good, and He loves you so much.
I wrote that short prayer in the beginning of this post to testify: It is
not my story, it is God’s, and I so want to tell it well. I stand today on
promises and truth I never, ever, ever could have or would have resolved
in my life without His patient love to teach me. Do not lose hope in your
doubt, take it to Jesus. He is the “author and perfector of our faith”, and He will complete what He has
started in you. And that is the sweetest of things.
Much love, Gretchen
***Gretchen is also the author of "Wide Eyed: A Journal and Guide". You can order your own copy here. Or enter for a chance to win a FREE copy!
To WIN the book, please share this post on your preferred social media outlet, and comment below:
What is one Sweet Thing Jesus has done for you recently? (Or even a really special Sweet Thing He has done for you in the past!)
The winner will be announced next Monday, February 1. So excited to hear about your amazing Sweet Things!
