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I try to stick with a plan when it comes to my eating habits as your girl can eat.  Indulgences such as chocolate, a bag of chips, or a bowl of pasta I try to save for the weekend.  Like anyone else I get tempted and at times fall into those temptations.  Recently, I spent the day with a friend and on the drive home I decided I wanted a bowl of chocolate ice cream. Instead of going straight home, I detoured to the grocery store.

After settling in at home, I decided to fix me a bowl.  When I pulled the container out of the freezer I noticed that I may have bought the wrong kind of chocolate ice cream. The container stated “extreme” chocolate ice cream.  While I am the first one to raise my hand for anything chocolate, in my opinion there is a such thing as too much chocolate. Nevertheless, I continued preparing my bowl of ice cream.  Part of my preparation is stirring the ice cream around and around with a spoon to achieve the desired smooth texture I like.    

At first bite, the ice cream itself was good, but as I took another bite, and another bite, the chocolate pieces were a tad bit overwhelming and I knew I wasn’t going to eat any more of it.  This led me to throwing the bowl of ice cream and the remaining gallon away.  I was done with it because it wasn’t what I had expected.  My husband watched in disbelief as I placed the gallon of ice cream into a bag.  Before he could say anything, I explained to him that I didn’t like it. 

He shook his head at me and said “Chetoca throwing away that ice cream is like throwing away money.” I knew his response meant that he wanted me to place the ice cream in the freezer and that he would eat it.  While my relationship with this bowl of ice cream was a complete bust, it got me to thinking about our relationship with God.  While this chocolate ice cream situation wasn’t what I expected I know that I can’t judge all chocolate ice cream based on this one experience. 

The same can be said about Christ’s love for his children. Just because he allowed us to endure that financial hardships, the loss of a love one, and anything else that causes distress; mistake God’s allowance for these things to mean he doesn’t care or he isn’t there. Don’t allow moments such as these to deter you from God’s love. If anything these hard yet complicated moments are actually invitations to experience Christ on a deeper, personable level.

Before you choose to give up on God or believe that God’s best is a sham; I would like to encourage you to keep this scripture close to your heart Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  I know this verse is “cliché” so to speak because when something unpleasant happens Christians or people in the church are quick to use this verse an inspiration. 

Please believe and know that no matter what happens in your life good or bad it couldn’t have happened unless God allowed it.  And if God allowed it he will use it for good.  God’s word won’t return to him void (i.e. Isaiah 55:11).  His love for us is steadfast and can ground us in difficult moments that we experience throughout our lives.  Continue to dwell in his presence and rest in his grace so during those tough moments you will be firmly planted through the trials. 

While this bowl of ice cream discouraged me from eating the remainder, Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:8-21 to not allow tribulations to discourage us. It is through these moments that the Holy Spirit works within us to do more than we can perceive or imagine.  Take some time to meditate and ask God to give you a deeper understanding of his love described through his word.

Ease & Stillness,