The tricky part about having God author an instruction manual for our lives is that He does expect us to obey every bit. That includes the difficult parts like trust. When was the last time you actually had to “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding?”
In early July, my wife Sarah and I traveled up to the beautiful town of Charleston, SC. Our plans were to spend a few days relaxing before our life gets a little hectic; we are expecting our first child in late October. As we headed off to our first adventure, with my wife operating as navigator, an accidental right-hand turn placed us face-to-face with Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a dominating piece of architecture where a mass-murder of nine people had occurred just a few weeks prior. Amidst the media frenzy still taking place, we decided to park and visit the site.
Flowers, notes of encouragements, pictures, sculptures and bibles were strewn across the entire walkway of “Mother Emanuel.” But it was one fixture on the steps of this church that will be with me forever; a lay leader named “Minister Dexter.” When walking up to the scene of a crime, you may not expect to see anyone smiling, full of joy and encouragement but that is exactly what God placed in front for all to see. I took the opportunity to speak with Dexter and would like to share with you a paraphrased version of the encounter that meant so much to my wife and I.
“Dexter, you are smiling and everyone visiting is sad. How are you doing?” I asked sheepishly. “Brother,” he said while lovingly grabbing my shoulder and undivided attention, “God is doing something here. We had the last of nine funerals yesterday and when we all came out of the church, people were crying and sad. Us church members talked to them and told them not to be sad because their hope and joy can be in Jesus Christ. People were getting saved on the steps of this church in the middle of a funeral. People are experiencing God’s love and comfort through a horrible thing.” At this point, Dexter’s smile grew even bigger. “Young man, do you know that Romans 8:28 says that God will work all things out for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose? Our purpose is to tell people about Jesus Christ and He is working this out for our good! We are trusting Him to sustain us in this hard time and to pour His Spirit out on this place. God takes care of those who love Him and trust Him!”
Dexter does not own a library full of theological masterpieces or speak much Hebrew and Greek. Honestly, I would be surprised if he owned anything more than a worn out bible. But for decades, he has trusted God in the most difficult of circumstances and will tell you that time and time again, “God has never left him.”
My encounter with Dexter that day in the midst of a crime scene reminded me that although trusting God is rarely easy, we can rest in the promise that He will always, as Psalm 46:1 boldly proclaims, be “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Originally Posted July 24, 2015 – https://blog.mychristiancare.org/an-accidental-right-hand-turn
Dom Robin 