Always Prepared

“Anyone have more than 16 points?”

My hand stayed in the air.

“More than 20?”

“Do different sets of keys count? If so I have 22, if not I only have 19”

I was just clarifying. I’m not competitive at all. Really.

“Yes, they count. Lipgloss?”

I had 3 of those and a lipstick. Four points.

“A pair of socks”

Why did I clean out my purse last week? I had a pair in there!

“Notebook”

I had three of those! I was now solidly on the scoreboard.

The game continued for several rounds before concluding that the winner was the woman with 25 points. She had socks, fingernail clippers and an actual flashlight. I applauded and laughed at my attempt to be the most prepared packrat in the room.

Wasn’t the whole purpose of life to hoard things in your purse so you could win a free candle at a baby shower?

What is it about being self sufficient and ever-prepared? I can almost feel the badge of honor appear.

I could be locked in my car in the middle of the woods with a dead battery and I would be thankful that I packed protein powder instead of a candy bar. I could use the foil on the pack of gum to start a signal fire and I would be glad for that extra pair of socks. Maybe I could use my notebooks to write my next best seller while I waited for help.

Funny story…

A few weeks ago, I really was stranded in a wooded place with a dead battery, nearly dead phone and no jumper cables. I didn’t need my gum wrapper or my protein powder. I was hours from home and miles from the nearest jumper cable selling retailer. There was also a goose taunting me.

Bizarrely enough, my father-in-law was also hours from home and 20 minutes from me. By the time he came to my rescue I had a stranger named Jim give me his number so I could let him know if I needed his help after all.

All that stuff in my purse and none of it helped me.

Is it foolish to say we trust God and then spend years of our lives worrying and over-thinking to be prepared for outcomes that never happen?

Self-sufficiency, independence. The constant need to prove we can take care of ourselves.

In John 16, Jesus is telling the disciples what will happen, preparing them with the knowledge they need before the events happen. Look! It’s not going to be easy. I’m going to be with the Father. Hey…pay attention! Bad stuff is going to happen, but I’m not telling you so you can panic. I’m telling you so you know its under control!

They don’t want to hear him. They don’t like the idea He is leaving them and can’t hear the important words for the future. The answer they want to soothe the current tension is not the answer Jesus is giving.

“I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Yep. Y’all its gonna be rough sometimes. He doesn’t offer us peace while we are at the beach on a picnic with perfect weather. We don’t need it there.

He offers us peace that only He can offer, in the MIDDLE of the tension. He OVERCAME the world. He endured. He has walked that walk and further. So take heart! He did it already this isn’t new, it isn’t too much. Victory is ours!

And maybe we believe that when we’re on the beach. But what about in the middle of all the normal routines being turned upside down? What about when the whole world faces the same uncertainty with no earthly answer? What happens when I was prepared for everything except this?

There are real fears out there. Not all of it is irrational. And we aren’t prepared for any of it, who knew? But we are prepared. Not because we have large pantries or enough toilet paper. We are prepared because all along the truth has stayed the same. No global pandemic or “Goliath” changes who God is today or who He was yesterday.

No amount of word-twisting the devil does changes that.

“Is God really gonna… is He really good? But what about?”

Don’t go there devil, I’m not in the mood.

Here’s the truth. “God is good.”

That’s it. That’s all we need to know. Look it up in scripture, write it down, read it, recite it, sharpie it on your hand. Get this.

God is good. All the time.

What about when things turn out differently than I thought? What about when it’s my graduating year and school is canceled? What about when my wedding is this weekend and I have to choose less than 7 people to come? What about when….?

Hey, I hear you. This is a crazy season none of us have been through before. It’s challenging and difficult and hard. It’s beyond the words we can give.

Some of us are walking with less of our tribe on this earth and its absolutely devastating. The tension and ache in these moments are deep and gut-wrenching.

But God.

Let us remember that God is Love and He is good. God’s in this with us already. We invite Him but He’s already here. He mourns with us, He grieves with us, He celebrates with us, He strengthens us! He guides us with his rod and staff! (Psalms 23)

The truth is sometimes the peace that surpasses all understanding brings us closeness and stillness within God’s heart, but leaves us with the tension of the “in progress” and the now.

The peace comes in knowing God will never leave or forsake us. We will never be alone, and we will never be going first. Peace is in the dwelling in the answer that is Christ not in the resolution of our circumstances.

We can be prepared for every outcome and still not be prepared for what we truly need. We need Jesus.

I need Jesus.

I need to reach into scripture and put myself in there. I need to confess my control issues and my need to control the potential outcomes.

It’s scary to step out with out anything to grab onto. No safety net, no excuses…if I step out without my facade of safety and I fall…Who will catch me? I will look foolish.

So the question for all of us then…do we truly trust Him?

Yes. Even when I forget and I have to try again, I trust Him. Even when I find myself holding on to my false sense of security…I will let go and trust Him.

Even if I have to step out when I don’t feel like it and model the trust I don’t feel?

Yes even then.

Even when you have to downsize your purse and risk not having what you might need because writing a blog post has kicked your behind?

Yep. Last day with my self-saving purse guys. I’ll leave you with some comic relief/confession/accountability.

Here’s this mess (Evidence A: lack of trust)

Itemized list:

* One purse that has has lasted longer than the rest. Bless its heart it’s a little worn and about to start losing it’s handles one stretch mark at a time.

• 6 keys—all of them go to something…I think.
• 2 lip glosses, 2 Lip Sense
• Frankincense—Praying oil!
• Eye drops—because I need more sleep than I get.
• Electrolyte drops
• 2 Concealer (no idea why I have two actually)
• 1 Mascara
• 3 pens (this is a vast improvement)
• Wallet
• Protein powder— in case I need a quick meal while I’m waiting to be saved in my car
• Wireless headphones
• Portable charger and cable
• 3 necklaces (one broken, two I never put away)
• Store loyalty card holder (Washington coin purse)
• 3 notebooks— For complete thoughts
• 3 mini books—For tiny notes
• 8 tea bags—Just add water!
• Mito 2 Max—Make it through the afternoon without coffee…
• Empty capsules for oils
• Notes I’ve taken—because I have forgotten that I had notebooks with me
• Phone numbers—I don’t actually know who they are.
• Sun glasses
• Oils for delivery in bubblewrap
• Socks for bowling—or winning baby shower games
• Pill case (rectangle)
• Oil sample case (round grey)
• Another lip gloss…
• Oil Pouch full of: 2-Thyme, Breathe, Cardamom, Spearmint, Peppermint beadles, Green Mandarin, Cilantro, Balance, Arborvitae, Basil, Peppermint, PastTense, Fractionated Coconut oil, Black Pepper, On Guard Hand Sanitizer, Slim & Sassy

I won’t ever be prepared for everything perfectly. I may forget something important and have to go back, but I might see His heart a little more clearly.

Even in this crazy…He’s with us. We can trust Him with all of it. With the trips we don’t make to the store, with our health and our families— We WILL have trouble.

Take heart friends, He is still the same God who worked in Egypt.

And if you guys need anything? You’re gonna have to ask the Lord, I don’t carry everything anymore.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.