God’s Mixing Bowl By Linda Chiwona

I have been up all night, unable to sleep due to a headache. I am sure you’ve all had nights like this where you toss and turn, trying to will yourself to sleep, but you just can’t. It’s at times like this that we reflect over things that have gone on during your day, week or lifetime. These are also the quiet moments that God’s voice can clearly be heard. At such an hour you have nothing to distract you, no phone calls and nothing good on television. Face it, no one else is crazy enough to be up at this hour. You only have your thoughts and God to entertain you.

It is in such a place that I find myself. I got to thinking about my life and all the pieces that make it what it is. Just to give you a time line, I turned thirty last October and feel blessed for every year God has seen fit to let me live. I have been blessed beyond measure in all aspects of my life. I have also had quite a challenging childhood. It is not one I would have chosen for myself. For it was wrought with pain, confusion, disappointment, failure and separation from the ones I loved. But, it was also full of joy, triumph, laughter, acceptance, success and opportunities others only dream of. Which leads me to my point, each of us is dealt a hand in life. Chances are, it’s not the hand you would have chosen for yourself, but it is what it is.

God in His infinite wisdom has allowed certain circumstances and situations to come into your life to mold and shape you into the person you are today. Often times we do not understand why it is we are going through certain things, but the Bible tells us that, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). I liken life experiences to ingredients in a cake. Alone, some of the ingredients are frankly hard to swallow. But when they come together in just the right portions, they make a sweet delectable treat.

I like many of you, like to lick the mixing bowl. This is a treat in small doses, but a whole bowl of cake mix would make anyone sick. It’s best to bake the cake in order to enjoy the full experience. It takes a lot of heat and pressure for a cake to rise to its full potential. So it is in life. The heat and pressure from failure, disappointment, heartache, grief, loss, hardship, sickness, pain and betrayal, force us to rise above ourselves and look to God. They give us character, texture, vitality, substance and most of all humility. These experiences enable us to see ourselves as we truly are and God at His best. For it’s at times like this that grace and mercy are at work.

I have always thought that eyes were the window to our souls. Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes that you knew had been through some things? Their eyes have a certain depth, glow & knowing. It’s in these eyes that you find compassion, understanding, caring, acceptance and humility. For you see the experiences that we have are not ours alone. They are to benefit others, so we can empathize with our brother or sister and help them rise above their situation. It’s through our testimony that God gets the glory. So do not be afraid to share the truth of what you have been through if it will help someone else. In saying that, I caution you to use wisdom, because not everyone has your best interests at heart. The enemy will always try to intervene where God is being glorified.

Next time life hands you a lemon, remember to give it to God and ask Him to put it in His mixing bowl of life. For in doing that, you are assured that the Omniscient, Omnipresent God is working it out for YOUR good. He sees the full picture, He knows the ultimate ending. Trust Him and you will always rise above life’s tough situations. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11.)