The Promise that’ll Change Your Week
Hijacking my attention, I no longer heard his voice as the speaker continued, my thoughts captive by a sentence underlined in stubby pencil on the page.
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| Photo: Pedro Ribeiro Simoes, Creative Commons cc, license |
Sitting on blue upholstered interlocking chairs this Sunday, I read and re-read the verse: God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Later, minced lemongrass, ginger root, and garlic cloves bubble to the surface of a light green Vietnamese soup. A lemony onion and garlic fragrance hangs heavy in the kitchen air. My hands in hot soapy sink water, I smile at the scent of ginger coconut soup and keep an eye on the timer as I scrub plates and pots with my matted green scrubby. Faded used tea leaves drift to the surface of my dish water, skirt around a soap sud, and swirl in tiny eddies.
Sunday’s verse bubbles in my mind again, a frequent occurrence this week, it seems. God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. The verse, it comforts, it teaches, it strengthens me. I hear it simmer in my head in work settings this week, and smile to find it rise unbidden from my lips on a phone call with my mom who is in a hospice room for my grandma. The promise swirls and eddies in my mind while I tutor geometry homework with my daughter, dice cilantro for soup, and slice into juicy lemons.
The verse speaks hope deep within me during a tremulous conversation with a loved one, and my lips trace its truth in quiet trust. God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything (from the Bible book of 1 John 3).
Rinsing my hands of the floating tea leaves from the sink, I step over to the stove and stir a swirling pot of minced lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and onion Vietnamese soup, and the truth — it simmers up in me too, smelling sweetly.
Hi friends, I appreciate you. What have you been reading, learning, or thinking about lately?
Excellent Word to start my day… and everyday really. Indeed the One who chose us knows the past, present, and future. Whom shall we fear?
Comforting indeed, Jennifer, to know that our God knows everything that's going on with us. So glad we can cling to that truth when things seem to be spinning out of control. May God be with you and your family!
Amazing what one can learn washing dishes…lovely story.
Comforting story, He knows what we need before we even ask. Such hope and truth. And the soup sounds like one I need the recipe to 🙂
What an inspiring and uplifting post, Jennifer. Thank you.
You encouraged me today.
I love when a piece of Truth reveals itself to us in a new way. That very verse has arrested me in a similar way in the past. Thanks for reminding me of it, Jennifer. You're faithful to pay attention.
I'm so glad that I reconnected with you today, Jen! I've missed reading your beautifully touching words. You truly have a gift for writing. This jotting reminds me of the song "Greater" by MercyMe.
"‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed
When others say I’ll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world"
Floyd,
Your line "The One who chose us knows the past, present and future." Yes!
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan,com