A Real Good Hand

Howdy.

Thursday already. Thanks for sharing your dream, Peggy! That sounds like a cool cover! You are so right. Jesus does know our deepest pleasures and joys. I’d like to scoot a big red chair next to yours, my friend. Thanks to those of you who have posted to me privately, too.

This morning I’m working on a project for a new client. Thoroughly enjoying myself. Makes me wonder if God really might grow this job into full time? Not close to that yet, but I’m closer than I was a couple of months ago. It’s not just that I’m getting more work. I’m thinking more as an entrepreneur, which is entirely new to me. I keep looking for full time jobs and yet for the first time I’m more open to part time. But not any part time. And not any full time. The “mix” is becoming increasingly important. If a job pays well but is far away, that takes from time I could be building Word Count. But then there are the benefits.

If I work part time, there are not the benefits but could be closer to home. Maybe learn new skills. Just don’t know. With each passing day, I gain new insight. In the process, my goals and objectives are shifting somewhat. I’m doing all I know to do. I ask God for wisdom. Through His Word, through the wise counsel of others. And in the middle of it all, I continue to precede the best I know how.

Thinking about all this, I’m reminded of a situation many years ago.

Visiting with my friends one Saturday afternoon, they decide to teach me a new card game. Nancy explains how we were to judge how many “tricks” we could take based on our hand. And this was dictated in part by how many trump cards we each had. Nancy was my partner and I was the last one to bid.

The number I bid was exceedingly high. Too high.

“Gayle, do you understand?” Nancy asked. “We all just said we can take X number of tricks. By bidding that number, you’re saying the tricks we think we will take, you will take instead. That could happen but rarely does.”

“Yes, I understand. Didn’t elaborate.

Fiercely competitive, a look of resignation immediately washed over Nancy’s face, her expression telling. If you knew what you were doing, Gayle, you wouldn’t bid that way. We’re gonna lose this hand big time.

While I didn’t appreciate her lack of confidence, I understood. This was only our third hand. I wasn’t experienced yet. I was smart enough to know this: I wasn’t about to alleviate Nancy’s anxiety at the expense of revealing to our opponents that I indeed had a very good hand.

“You must have a really good hand, Gayle, that’s all I have to say.”

I smile slightly. Say nothing.

Each time we went around the table, I’d lay my card down. I had so many trump cards in my hand, I was taking their kings and aces right and left. Soon it became evident. I did have an extraordinarily good hand. Every trick I said I’d take, I did. Every one.

At the end of the hand, Nancy’s happy but mostly shocked. ”Wow. “You knew your hand.”

What a picture of God! Through His Word, through His Holy Spirit, through my daily experience He tells me. ”I’m going to do this in your life, Gayle. I know you can’t see it, but I will do it.”

I want to believe that God knows what He’s doing just like my friend wanted to believe me. The difference, of course, is obvious. Nancy had reason to be nervous since I’d never played this card game. God is the Creator of the Universe. He made the Game. He made me. I can trust Him.

Still I’ll admit it. God does make me nervous sometimes. I can’t see what He sees. Looks like I could lose. I consider present circumstances in my own life and I become anxious. I see greater hardship among my loved ones and the world at large and think, it’s just too much. Too much sorrow. Too much evil. Too much brokenness. Yes, I see God working. But could His “Hand” possibly be so good to bring good out of all of it?

Yes! Always yes! God promises. He will make all things beautiful in its time. Everything is in control.

I remember that day well, even 25 years ago now. God showed me a glimpse of life from His perspective. The look on Nancy’s face – a picture of me. The confidence I felt – a picture of God. No wonder I’ve never forgotten. I remember Nancy’s look of distrust. I remember my excitement, knowing we would win. But I couldn’t tell Nancy that. Just like God can’t tell us sometimes. She’d known soon enough.

So will we.

All God’s cards are “trump cards.” He always has and always will have the first and last word. Have a great day!

Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
(Isaiah 46:9)

Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
(Isaiah 50)