Quiet Miracles

The words came quiet but strong. Even in the noise of my hair dryer. Even in the nuisance of a neighbor’s early-morning leaf blower. Whispering behind all the chaos in my own head planning out the day.

“Quiet….miracle…”

Wait…what?

What does that mean? I puzzled.

I envisioned the quiet miracle of life taking place in a mother’s womb. Quietly growing. Quietly being.

The quiet miracle of healing…of the heart, of the mind and of the whole body. The healing of relationships broken.

I thought of the quiet miracle of each new morning and the sun quietly appearing, casting light and promise.

I’m praising God today for the quiet miracles that come in a single phone call. An unexpected email. The few perfect words spoken from a friend’s loving heart. God gives us quiet miracles every single day, not with grand fanfare but in a simple flutter of angel’s wings.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Only the voice of God can be heard as a whisper amid noise, chaos and confusion. It’s that same voice that speaks miracles into being, answers to every cry of the heart. He’s present and hears the prayers of believers gathered in His name professing the hope they have in the One who saves and blesses and creates the new and beautiful from our own mess knowing He is the one true constant from which all miracles emerge. There is no other.

As God puts the final stitches in your quiet miracle, I pray you find rest and comfort…contentment…in the process knowing there will be no miracle left undone. 

Believe and trust in Him.

5 Steps To Help You Release Objects From a Painful Past

It wasn’t just any piano. It was the piano given to me with a promise attached to it; a promise to never let it leave the family and to hand it down from one generation to the next. It was supposed to be forever special and I was supposed to forever cherish it.

That was a tall order.

For years I’ve grappled with the thought that “a promise is a promise.” How could I possibly get rid of something I’d vowed would never leave my possession despite all the dark and painful memories associated with it? Yet, there it sat like a loud, obnoxious and very unwelcome house guest in the corner of my living room, taking up space and soaking up a bit of my joy with every glance.

So, when the opportunity came recently to trade my piano for a very old baby grand, I realized it was time to put my faith in action and actually let it go. In that decision alone, I regained control over the situation and reclaimed what this inanimate object held over me for so long and you know what? It felt great!

I know how difficult it can be to let go of something held onto out of obligation or perhaps a false sense of commitment and I would like to share my observations taken from my own personal experience:

1. Recognize that it’s unhealthy to keep objects around that represent an unpleasant time in our lives, especially if God is healing us, drawing us out and away from the grip of painful memories.

2. It’s much easier to get rid of an object if we release it emotionally first. This is tough to do when anger or resentment have built up, but if we first come to terms with it emotionally, we can release it with strength and confidence.

3. Understand that something that may have represented grief and pain in your life could actually be a blessing to someone else.

4. Give praise to God when the object physically leaves your possession! Praise Him for the feeling of release it brings and enjoy the wonderful freedom of no longer being bound by the painful memories it represented.

5. Share your testimony! Tell others how God has helped to bring you this far in the healing process.

God doesn’t want us held captive by inanimate objects nor by any other reminders of a painful past. Joel 2:25 tells us, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.”

Is there something you possess today that should be released? Something from a painful past or a promise made? God knows what brings the pain and sadness in your life. Rise up and take control of your healing process and remember Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Seek Him. Seek His guidance and direction and release all that hinders you today.