Sometimes in life, things happen that seem like coincidences.
You see someone in the grocery store you were just thinking about.
You read a book and the heroine has your birthday.
Your vacation days just happen to fall during your family reunion.
Little things. Things that don’t seem to hold much significance but are cool nonetheless.
But other times in life, something happens—sometimes a string of somethings—and they stop you in your tracks and you go, “Whoa. That was totally God.”
A string of somethings like that happened in my life recently. I’d been worrying about some big decisions and some other things out of my control.
One thing about me—the biggest thing I struggle with is worry. I know I shouldn’t worry, and I know that I can control it, but for some reason, I tend to focus instead on things OUT of my control.
Which makes no sense.
But I digress.
So I’d spent a few weeks thinking and worrying about these few issues. And then one day, a song came on the radio: “Strangely Dim” by Francesca Battistelli. It’s beautiful, as is the singer’s voice, but these lyrics are really what caught my heart:
When I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
‘Cuz when I seek Your face
And don’t look around
Any place I’m in
Grows strangely dim
The song was so powerful I just sat there and worshipped.
Here was a command directly from God: stop worrying and SEEK MY FACE. When I can do that, my problems don’t seem so big. And even though I’m not in control, I’m looking to God and He IS in control…and that makes it all seem so much better anyway.
As if that weren’t enough, the VERY NEXT MORNING, my devotional, Jesus Calling, had this to say. Not even kidding, this was the first sentence:
“Save your best striving for seeking my face.”
Um, don’t know what you would do, but I fell flat on my own face and nearly cried.
Because the Lord, the Creator of everything, cared enough about me to stop me in my worry—in my everyday go-go-go—and tell me not once, but twice, that all I really had to do was seek His face.
Your Turn: Have you ever had a fall-flat-on-your-own-face moment because of something that seemed coincidental—but you knew it was anything but?
Since the age of six, when she wrote the riveting tale “How to Eat Mud Pie,” Lindsay Harrel has passionately engaged the written word as a reader, writer, and editor. She has a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in English, and is published in the Falling in Love with You anthology released by OakTara in October 2012. Lindsay lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband of six years and two golden retriever puppies in serious need of training. Connect with her on her blog or via Facebook or Twitter (@LindsayHarrel).
Hale and Hearty Words 
I had just completed my first novel and was beginning to research the publishing process. I kept running into some variation of the same statement: “The odds are against you.” Even though I knew God had given me the story, I was beginning to lose heart.
During our weekly chapel, an award-winning author shared a testimony of his journey leading to publication, which, the more he shared, started to sound very similar to mine. At one point, a friend of mine, who was sitting a few rows up from me, turned around and stared at me, shaking her head in a strange combination of a “See, I told you not to worry” and “Wow, I can’t believe this” kind of expression. The speaker had just spoken, word for word, the same exact things I had just recently told my friend about my own situation.
It was an amazing (& quite humbling) confirmation that not only was I right where I was supposed to be, no matter how many odds were against me, God was already at work on my behalf & he was more than able to beat the odds.
Linds! Great post! I’m surprised my nose isn’t flat as a pancake from those kind of moments! On of my favorite verses comes from Genesis. When God speaks to Abraham. He says, “Don’t be afraid, I am your exceedingly great reward.” I hang on that b/c sometimes it’s easier to fixate on the promise/dream than the One who gave the promise and dream…and His face–seeking Him is the greatest reward beyond any other thing!
Jenny,
Your boy is A-dorable! Hope you’re feeling well and things are going smooth! (As smooth as possible with three little men…and one grown man) 🙂 Prayers and hugs!
Love, LOVE this, Linz. And as you know, I adore that song too–thanks to you. I never really listen to the radio, so I probably never would’ve heard it without you. The night you emailed me the link, I so SO needed it. 🙂
I feel like I’ve had quite a few times of something happening that might look like a coincidence but that I know, know, KNOW was anything but. I love those moments…of just knowing that God was speaking straight to my heart.
Thank you for a wonderful way to start the week, Lindsay — such a needed reminder to seek His face and to trust Him in all of life. And yes, I’ve had those fall flat on my face moments (and I don’t mean just in yoga class).
😉
Linz — Thanks again for sharing. Since you shared it on your post it’s become my favorite song. Just this morning I was stressing because I was behind schedule and my daughter read our devotional in the car. You guessed it, it about anxiety and worry. Talk about fall on your face moment!
Thanks so much for having me here today, Jen! It’s crazy…I wrote this post about a month ago and God used it today to remind me once again to seek His face. I love His loving care!
Wonderful post, Linds! And I totally love that song. The first time I heard it I was just riveted–soaking in every word as if my heart had written it!