One Word Miracle
Many times the way God orders our steps are ambiguous. I don’t know about you, but ambiguity doesn’t always work for me when I need God to tell me what to do. Like a lost child, I’ve gone to God for a literal answer to a situation.
Thankfully, my desperate pleas for guidance are answered. Suddenly, God provides a more focused and concrete way of moving forward. Little-by-little his plans evolve and I'm given step-by-step instructions.
I share another testimony about this blog because it’s another chapter along my journey that can show you how God will provide concrete answers to some of your questions and concerns. When we trust the Lord he is faithful to lead us, and like this miracle, with indisputable evidence of his goodness.
God told me, “build a blog.” I felt like the Israelites when Pharaoh told them to make bricks without straw.
After extensive research, Rick and I purchased the domain and plunged into building a blog. We chose WordPress, the most widely used, user-friendly platform to build the site.
It didn’t take long before we noticed basic software functionality was missing. If you’ve ever worked on a computer, standard software includes a variety of fonts, colors, the ability to bold, underline, or italicize. These basic features were nowhere to be found.
Rick and I were stumped how to move forward and no matter what we did, it wasn’t working.
Over the next two weeks I spent eight to ten hours a day searching the internet for answers. Nothing was coming together. My head was spinning and with each passing moment I was getting more and more frustrated. “Where’s the ‘straw,’ Lord!”
It was another maddening morning with the same overwhelming sense of hopelessness. With tears in between my prayers, I got up from my desk and began pacing my living room. Stubbornly and forcefully I began voicing my complaint to God. “If you want me to do this, I need something, God.” “I need a word, something.” And I wanted it now.
Like a bolt of lightning, the word “plugin” popped into my head. I had no idea what “plugin” referred to, let alone in connection with a blog. But it was so clear I knew God had just given me my something. I knew what I heard was from God.
I returned to my computer and typed in a rather vague search. “What is a plugin?” To my astonishment, 179 million results popped up with the first link specifically referring to my need. Not only did I learn what a plugin was, I saw how it connected to the exact domain I was trying to work with. “What is a WordPress Plugin?” was staring at me from my computer screen.
God was performing a miracle in my life.
I read on. A plugin is “written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress.” “What does that even mean,” I asked myself? I had no idea, but I knew I was where God wanted me to receive my answer.
I quickly learned there are numerous plugins to choose from that operate on the backend. A plugin is required if I wanted options for fonts and colors. Another plugin may provide the ability to add photos or columns for a more creative web design.
God performed a miracle in my life that morning with one word. A word that I’d never heard of in connection with computer technology. He taught me something new.
What God did for me in that moment was redirect me away from Wordpress because of its complicated platform. God literally guided my footsteps.
How can you know it is God?
The unknown becomes known: When something you’ve never considered or thought about before suddenly pops in your head, chances are it’s God. It is one way to distinguish his voice. Go with it and believe that God is trying to get your attention. Trust those hunches that come out of nowhere. Satan would surely never give you something that would benefit the work God has called you to do. Therefore, you don’t have to remain puzzled, “is this really you, God?”
Look for patterns in your life: Take time to refer to past journal entries. You may be surprised how God has already been preparing you for those moments when you’re in a state of desperation. When I cried out to God, I was reminded of several promises God had previously given me that were specific to writing. I have several journal entries that include Bible verses where God conveyed what to expect in the future. Prior to the moment I heard “plugin,” God reaffirmed his words through dreams using one phrase. At different times and in different ways, God repeated a phrase: “When you need to know it, you’ll know.” Just like he said, I stood in my living room and I needed to know it. Plugin! God fulfilled his promise, like he does every single time by turning his promise into my reality. I could see how he was helping me to build bricks without straw. (See Recurring Dreams and God’s Archway Dream)
Ask and expect: I’ve heard others say that we are trying to manipulate God when we beg for details and want them now. I disagree. God says to come to boldly to his throne. We can stand before him with the fullest confidence to receive. (Hebrews 4:16) I take God at his word that I can, therefore, I do. It’s called faith. It doesn’t mean I get what I want, but I’m thankful he lets me say what I’m feeling and what I think I need. God knows the condition of our hearts and whether or not we are coming to him out of respect or with selfish motives. Hebrews 4:16
Wait to hear God: We can experience beauty in ambiguity while we wait on God to give us next steps. We should also expect that in some situations God will guide our steps with precision. I think it would be difficult, near impossible, to experience the joy and peace of God when I don’t take him at his word both figuratively and literally.
"But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him." I Corinthians 6:17
God’s timing is perfect: God’s timing is perfect in every situation, but how many times do we keep waiting and wondering what he wants us to do? We don’t recognize that God has already instilled a specific word from the moment we began praying. (Daniel 10:12) Pray and listen with your ears turned to hear as though you were standing in front of a friend. This simple gesture opens your spiritual ears to hear. Many times you’re standing in the moment to receive your something.
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”Lamentations 3:25-26
No matter what answers you seek, God is the One who knows what you need and when you need it.
Friends, there are things in life that are unexplainable, but when the unknown becomes known, it’s God. Miracles come in different forms and sometimes it's a one word miracle.
Share a miracle with us. There are no answers to prayer that are too trivial to give God glory. Your testimony encourages us to believe and remain confident as we stand before God in prayer.
Thumbnail photo: Benjamin Nelin
