God Shows Up, Sometimes with Donuts!

I had a great time visiting Sky from Haiti. Isn’t that a beautiful name? And he is a beautiful person, dreadlocks and all.

On my way there, I passed the donut shop on the corner as I always do, but this time I felt a nudge. So I picked a dozen assorted chocolates, glazes and sprinkles, thinking a box of goodies might help someone wake up and feel special. 

When I went into the shelter, Sky said he was the only one who would be at Bible study this time.  This was a first. Everyone else was out helping with projects, and some had doctor appointments. I looked at the big box of donuts and smiled, “Take your pick then!” and a big boyish smile came over his face. I guess he felt pretty special at that moment. 

We dove right into the donuts and the conversation. He talked about his childhood and moving to America. There were some rocky years, a little prison time, and a lot of regret. Every time there was an altar call he’d go forward again, just in case.

Life is like a river, isn’t it, I began. There are sunny times when we float along with a big box of goodies. Then we come around a corner and there may be some waves and a cold wind blowing. We might find ourselves bumping the rocks in white water. We don’t know what’s coming next, but God does!

Jesus is in the boat with us. He is at perfect peace and gives us chances to exercise our faith. We talked about the men in that boat. Even though they had known the sea their whole lives, they found themselves way in over their heads. Too far to swim. Too deep to stand. It was the middle of the night and they were in the middle of the sea, far beyond human strength to paddle. 

What was Jesus thinking, asleep at a time like this? At first glance, you might think he didn't care, but wasn't God watching and listening to everything?

I imagine Jesus was praying in the Spirit for them to exercise some faith in the things he’d been teaching for two years. Yet, when the water started slapping into the boat they forgot it all. They forgot him! They were too busy trying to save themselves.

Who finally remembered him? It might have been John, the deep sensitive one, who finally went to his side and woke him up. “Lord, don’t you care?”

Imagine it! Jesus saw the look of terror in the eyes of his companions and he stood and raised his hand. “Peace! Be still!” Imagine their mouths hanging open, hearts pounding, and white knuckles wrapped around the rails. But the wind and the waves stopped. Instantly still! 

What happened to these giants of faith he hoped they would be? “Why couldn’t you have faith?” He puzzled. What’s it going to take to show you what I’ve been saying? 

Faith. God wants us to show it in the middle of the storm. He wants us to speak it and live it and conquer our fears.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just show up now and stop everything that troubles us? Have you asked, what’s taking so long? Why doesn’t God just take me out of this storm? 

Times of testing show what we truly believe and understand about him.

Then we jumped into the story of Daniels’ friends. Sky read the passage in Daniel 3 and we talked about secular culture, peer pressure, pride and the fury of a king. Mostly, we honed in on the courage it took for three young men to stand up for their faith.

This test was straightforward and with fatal consequences, but they knew the second commandment: You shall not bow down to a manmade image or worship idols. Would they obey it?

They bravely determined together, "our God is able to save us, but even if he doesn't, we WILL NOT BOW a knee to a gold statue!" 

If they hadn’t been put in such a predicament, they NEVER would have SEEN JESUS! They would never have been promoted either. Everything changed when they stood their ground. 

Jesus loves to show up in the fire! All heaven takes note of a stand like that. 

What do you think they talked about in there while everyone else sat on the sidelines hoping to see the power of the king’s fury and his law fulfilled?

I think it might have been something like this. “Hi guys! Can I just tell you how proud I am of you right now? You men just made the most wonderful confession of faith and have given the Father great glory! I can’t wait to show you the rewards waiting for you and the celebration going on in heaven over this!”

They probably looked around at the fire and asked, “Are we dead? How is this happening that we don’t even feel the heat?”

“You are being held by the power of the Spirit of God right now, sealed in his love.  Nothing can touch you or separate you from the love of God! But you can’t stay here now. I’m sending you back to keep living for me. You are about to be promoted and I’m going to use your story for generations to come! Keep up the good work, boys!”

Meanwhile, the king had risen to his feet and counted the four men. He called to them, “Servants of the Most High God! Come out!”

And so, three young men were bound and thrown into a furnace, but three young warriors walked out of the fire in their own strength. They encountered God in that fire. Their story made front page news in Babylon and demonstrated that God is indeed able to rescue us from the king’s fury. 

The king knew it too. His whole attitude reversed. Instead of screaming at them as he had before, Nebuchadnezzar praised their courage, practically bowing in recognition that their God truly is God. Then he promoted all three of them in the province. Laws were changed in a nation that day, and we still know the names of these three brave men today. 

It was so much fun eating donuts and reading through this amazing account of the power and presence of our Lord. We marveled at the goodness of God, how he shows up with the power to take us through the most fiery trials.

That's when Sky looked up and said, “I can’t believe you’re saying these things today. This is God.” 

Unbeknownst to me, these truths were exactly what he had been praying about, unable to sleep the night before! He shook his head again. “You didn’t know it, but you were answering all my questions.” 

I came away shaking my head and praising God too. Isn’t it great to remember that we are kept in the power of his love and that Jesus knows exactly what we’re going through? He can stand over the deep waters, calm the seas, and bring you through fire! Jesus loves you. HE thinks you're pretty special! 

Whether you feel like you’re in over your head and you’re tired of rowing, or whether you feel like the pressure’s too much, and you're facing the fire,  remember, the Most High God is mighty to save! 

He understands everything you’re going through and He promises to stand with you and keep you to the end of time. 
He may even bring you donuts!