Did you ever say something and then regret what you said because you realize you may actually have to do what you said?
This past summer as Mark and I were planning for our Reservoir Bible Study which would need to be pre-recorded to be used on our zoom meetings I had an idea…
In the past I would begin our Bible Study time together by encouraging the youth and young adults to share something they were thankful for, an answered prayer, or a God story from their week.
It was a stretch, but usually there would be several brave ones who would share something and I loved whatever they said because I know the power of words and it gave them a safe place to learn the power of praise!
Well, this summer I was considering how to include praise and thanksgiving via zoom. I have to believe it was God’s idea that He put in my mind because it certainly wasn’t something that I actually wanted to do.
So, I found myself saying to Mark one day, “I should dress up like Where’s Waldo’s girl friend, Wilma, and do a video clip encouraging the students to Find God in their lives and give Him thanks.”
It was just a thought, just a silly idea…
But Mark took it seriously!
He thought it was a great idea!
Next thing I knew we were ordering the “Where’s Waldo” Book, AND the “Where’s Wilma” costume.
It started to take on a life of its own. We thought of shooting the video in different places in West Milford and at the end of my talk we could pan out to something that would be a clue of where I was so the students could guess and for each correct guess their name would be put in the basket for a drawing each month.
As long as it was an idea; as long as the book was on the table, and the costume was folded on my dresser and there were some plans of where we could record the video, it was all good.
Then, there came the day I needed to pick up the book, put on the costume, go out to some place in West Milford, stand in front of the video camera, and talk.
That was a different thing!
But I found as I went out with the motive to give others the encouragement to be thankful and to share their God Stories, I became brave and courageous to do exactly that, even in my “Wilma Suit” and with the possibility of people passing by seeing me and hearing me.
And so, the very thing God stirred in my heart, the very thing I spoke out, though it was something I regretted and feared, became something that I am very thankful for and have learned that God’s will doesn’t always fit in my comfort zone, but it is for my best and intended to point others to Him!
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord…” Jeremiah 29:11-14