I’ve learned to expect “super random” with God.
God has a way of showing up at unexpected times in unpredictable ways. That’s precisely why I could see His hand at play when I received a text recently from a friend of my son. The darling young woman, who I rarely see, let alone text, opened her message with, “Hi, it’s Frenisia! Super random, but…”
I didn’t have to read another word to know that God had prompted her to text me.
I was sitting on my back porch with some friends, who had popped over unexpectedly with Mexican food and plenty of much-needed good cheer, when my watch vibrated a notification. I glanced at it reflexively, and when I saw who had sent the text and how it began, I received it with the same delight I’d extended to my impromptu guests. Distracted from the conversation I’d been enjoying, I requested a moment to read the message and tapped it.
I tucked Frenisia’s words into my heart and continued my conversation, thankful for a loving God who knew I was hurting and surprised me with treasured visitors and a “super random” text to encourage me.
I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
— Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)
The next morning, I awoke from a dream that had just ended. It seemed so real, so colorful, so full of emotion, that I had to pull myself back to reality as I climbed out of bed. In my dream, my Believe & Speak podcast suddenly started receiving tens of thousands of listeners. Since I can normally expect about 100 to 200 people to tune into each episode, I was shocked and delighted to watch the statistics counter get overwhelmed with the onslaught and crash.
I wondered what the dream might mean as I reached for my phone—not to check my stats (which would certainly disappoint), but to read the verse of the day already lighting up the lock screen.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into
all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only
what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
— John 16:13 (NIV)
It was too early for me to connect any dots, so God connected them for me. As I began to meditate on what John 16:13 might mean to me in that moment, He reminded me of Frenisia’s text and my dream. Was He encouraging me to continue believing His promise to enlarge my platform so that I could bear much fruit for his glory? Was the dream prophetic? Was God telling me “what is yet to come” like the verse of the day promised?
I didn’t know.
I still don’t know. But here’s what I do know. God saw me struggling with insignificance, and He sent my friends and Frenisia to encourage me to keep plugging along, teaching the Word and podcasting the truth.
I wiped the verse of the day from the screen and opened my messaging app. I hadn’t responded to Frenisia’s text because our guests had stayed late the night before. After the dream and the promise from John 16:13, I knew exactly what to say.
After telling Frenisia about my dream and the verse of the day, I told her that God often speaks to me in threes. With God’s help, I was beginning to connect the dots.
1. Her text
2. My dream
3. God’s promise of revelation
I continued my text with these words:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
I’m keeping my word to Frenisia by sharing my mid-week miracle with you, and I’m reminded again of the beauty and perfection of God’s timing. Just last week, a small group of women gathered in my living room for the weekly Bible study I’ve been teaching based on the material in my book, Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance. We happened to be on the chapter about spiritual warfare and were looking into how God spoke through a man to instruct Jehoshaphat on how to face the advancing armies preparing to attack.
He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah
and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be
afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the
battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not have to fight this
battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the
deliverance the Lord will give you… Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and
the Lord will be with you.’” — 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (NIV)
A small but mighty army, the women in my Bible study followed the strategy given by God to march into battle by leading with praise and worship. We turned our focus away from our struggles and gave our full attention to God, lifting songs of praise and hearts of worship. With my arms held high and my face toward heaven, I surrendered to the truth that I don’t have to fight my way to significance or prominence.
I called up Frenisia’s text the very next day to copy and paste her words onto this page. Here’s the response she’d given. A response I’d forgotten. Reading it that day? Super random!
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
— Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
As I write this to you, I can picture Frenisia’s fabulous smile. In the same way she encouraged me, I hope that I’ve encouraged you.
May God fill your heart with the knowledge that He hears your whispered prayers. I know He has heard mine. While I don’t know if my dream will ever come true (I just checked my stats and found no surprises), I do know God is fighting for me to keep the faith and never give up.
I also know that He is fighting for you.
Keep dreaming. God has big plans for you.
