And his daughter in law, Phinehas‘ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. ~ I Samuel 4:19-22

One of my favorite sermons taught about this scripture passage and was entitled “Recognizing Your Miracle When It Happens.” As I opened my Bible for inspiration on a blog it fell right on these verses and I knew that someone needs to read this.  

When things happen in our life we sometimes become overwhelmed by the details.  Phinehas’ wife heard that all the men in her life were dead and fell into labor because back then, no men = no security. Sometimes bad things strike into our lives, but in the midst of trial God can bring us miracles. Recognizing that miracle, however, can sometimes be the hardest part.  

My ex dumping me was probably the greatest gift he ever gave me. So often during our relationship I felt as if he was trying to buy my love- coach purse, expensive dinners, etc. I told him I was happy to just go to subway and sit and chat but he never did. I love carnations but he said they were cheap flowers and he wouldn’t get them.  When things started going south I begged and pleaded with God “Lord, let this cup pass from me. Be my God of second chances.”  One night during a powerful service, after almost 2 weeks of silence from the man who had claimed I was the only girl he ever loved, I prayed with ALL my heart “mountain, be thou removed!” I had no clue what the mountain was, but I knew that it was gone.  The very next day, my ex changed his relationship status on Facebook to “single” without ever breathing a word to me. I was devastated. Guys reading this blog who are dating- if you are a true man of God and feel you have to break up with someone- pray about it and if you must break up, meet with her! It can be at a coffee house or over skype if distance is an issue, but see her FACE-TO-FACE and look her in the eye and tell her that God is telling you “no.”  That is what a real man of God would do. Don’t cop out with the excuse “we met when we talked about taking a break,” because taking a break and breaking up are not the same. I had believed he would have done what a real man of God would do but clearly, he did the furthest thing possible.  

It ripped my heart up in shreds and yet, there was a nagging feeling that “you prayed about that mountain last night and then this… this must be of God!” Although it took much fasting and prayer, I eventually came to see that indeed, his breaking up with me was a miracle.  I loved what I THOUGHT he was more than even Jesus- what a horrible place I had been in! Never in my life have I placed any person or thing so far above God as I did my ex.  He was my everything. I practically lived to see or hear from him again.  Even when he yelled at me because I didn’t go to the gym and made me wonder if he even found me attractive at all, I still came back for more.  If we had married, who I am would have been destroyed and I would have been a shell of the light I am now.

I never imagined that God would so quickly show me that He has a new future for me and I honestly wish I knew who God wants me with because there are multiple guys right now and I am legitimately interested in them all. God has put me in a place of just trusting Him to sort it all out because I do NOT want to hurt anyone and so I just have to believe that if I keep focusing on Him, Jesus will help limit anyone having pain when it’s time to choose. Perhaps one will just naturally take himself out of the running or one will shine brighter. All I do know is that if I had wallowed in mourning instead of burying myself in Him, I would still be harboring heartache, there is no way I could even be entertaining the thought of a new relationship in the next few months, and I don’t even know if I would still be passing my schooling. This God we serve, He gives us miracles in our trying times but we must recognize them when they happen or, like the woman in the passage above, we may perish in our sorrows.

Jesus,

Help us not miss Your miracles in the midst of our storms. As the preacher said, they may be tiny, crying miracles that need our care and attention, but when they grow up, like how her son would have been able to take care of her in her old age, Your miracles will come to fruition if we just hold on to hope and stay faithful to our daily tasks.  Lord, teach us to focus on You and hold on to the fact that in You, we have hope.  In You, there are miracles that we may not even recognize just yet.  Thank You Jesus for saving me from tying myself to someone who never even saw my real worth and couldn’t even tell me I was beautiful until AFTER he was essentially dumping me when he asked for a break.  Lord, for those who are brokenhearted, I pray right now that You show them just how faithful and loving You are as You did for me in my time of pain.  For those who’s life is falling apart, show them that in You, they have a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Show them that in You, they can overcome the things in this world because You overcame the things in this world (John 16:33). I love You Jesus with all my heart. 

Rebekah M.