God Made the World Round

“We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they will fall.” Proverbs 16:33 NLT

In the movie, “Out of Africa” there is this line I have never forgotten:

” God made the world round so we would never be able to see to far down the road.”

That is a true statement. I was just reflecting where I was nine years ago. I didn’t know I was in for a major life turn in the days ahead. I was living with my Mom, best roommate I ever had. She hadn’t been feeling well. On March 6, 2010 she ended up in the ER, where we found out she needed emergency surgery. Because her potassium was too low, they didn’t operate until the next day. It was pancreatic cancer that had grown into her colon.

First big lesson I learned from this experience: God answers prayers before we even pray them.

The reason the pancreatic cancer grew into her colon was because of a previous surgery. This is a miracle because pancreatic cancer typically grows up the center of the body, wrapping itself around organs. This makes it inoperable because of the risk to the other organs. I learned all of this at that time. Mom’s grew into her colon because 10 years prior she had had surgery to remove a blockage. Cancer gravitates towards scar tissue. Therefore, 10 years later when I was praying for Mom to be cured of cancer, she was. She was one of the 7% of people who was able to have the cancer surgically removed. They were able to get all of it. The mass was so large it filled a bucket and was the talk of the hospital, but they got it.

God answered my prayer 10 years before I ever prayed it. The scar tissue from the original surgery gave me five more years with my mother I otherwise wouldn’t of had.

That day, March 6th, 2010 began a chain of events that turned my life completely around. I never saw it coming. That summer as my brother’s and I struggled to take care of our Mom, I grew closer to God than I ever had before. I can still remember so clearly the hours I would spend in His Word, crying out to Him for guidance and direction. My biggest prayer, “Just show me the next right step Lord. That’s all I need to know.”

Second big lesson I learned from this experience: the power of fasting.

I know you’ll find this shocking, but my brother’s and I fought during this time, as siblings do when under incredible stress. I did a fast for my family and our relationships. I was praying for God to heal us and bring us back together. I remember distinctly on the 7th day we were all going to be OK. I just knew it in my spirit. I remember thinking, “Cool, I can stop the fast now.” Immediately I heard God whisper, “Do you want a partial victory or do you want the full victory?” I chose the full victory. I went the entire ten days. I got it too. My brothers are my best friends. We worked through everything, together.

Third big lesson: God always has a plan.

On Oct. 21 st of that year I walked onto a tennis court and met the love of my life. Within two years we would be married, starting on a whole new adventure. He would help heal the relationships with my brothers. He would be there with me the night my Mom passed. He would be and still is my best friend and biggest supporter. But I never saw it coming.

It all started on March 6th when we took my Mother to the ER. God changed me completely in the months that followed. I was put in the fire of life. He used that fire to refine me, to mature me, to prepare me. It’s what He used to prepare me to meet my husband. It’s how He made room for him in my life. Prior to March 6th, I didn’t have room for anyone new in my life. It was full. After March 6th, I had room. I didn’t even realize I needed to make room, but God did. He had a plan all along.

I do believe the world is round so we can’t see too far down the road. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad. Sometimes what we think is good, could actually be bad. Definitely things that appear bad at first turn out to be the best things. We don’t need to know what lies ahead, but when we look back, we begin to see clearly.

I can see clearer than I ever have before. What ever does lie ahead in the road, God is there. He is the “Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).