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“God has something better than what you left behind.” — Anonymous
I’ve seen the meme circulating on social media through the years. It is a drawing of a little girl holding on to a teddy bear, while Jesus bends down with a stretched arm, prompting her to hand over the stuffed animal.
“Just trust Me,” the caption says.
The words above the teary-eyed little girl show the reluctancy of her heart: ”But I love it, God.”
From the spectator’s viewpoint, the graphic shows what the little girl cannot see. Jesus has a much bigger, nicer teddy bear hidden behind His back.
The concept has been heavy on my mind lately.
My family and I just moved to our dream home. The house is not extravagant, by any means. Still, it certainly fits our family beautifully, and it offers amenities that we never imagined we would enjoy at this point in our lives. Indeed, friends and family who know our story understand that this home is nothing but a gift from God.
Years ago, we lost a substantial amount of money when we had to sell a business at a significant loss. Soon afterward, my health took a turn for the worse. I had three major surgeries in six years, one of which was due to cancer. These valleys greatly impacted our family in many ways, especially financially.
One of our spiritual practices as a couple has been to pay tithes to the church. My husband and I committed to starting tithing early in our marriage and have continued to do so, even during bleak financial times. It is a practice that often did not make sense, but we chose to follow God’s ordinance and trust Him for the outcome. We opened our hands and gave up financial comfort and pleasures, believing that God had “something better” behind his back.
And he always did. Indeed, I could write a book about the incredible, often supernatural ways God has provided for my needs during difficult times and how life’s setbacks became a channel through which God strengthened my faith. But perhaps the best lesson in the process has been to experience the results of trusting God when he closed certain doors.
As a single adult, I felt like the little girl in the meme when my boyfriend of four years cheated on me with one of my closest friends. I felt like the rug was pulled from under me when the man I believed was my soul mate and the friend I confided in broke my trust. At the time, I did not understand it, because I firmly thought that I had the most lavish teddy bear in my arms. But all along, God knew better. The teddy was second-rate. He had something far better behind His back.
And then there was the time we started the process of selling our home to move closer to my husband’s job, only to watch God close that door. Not long after that, his employer implemented a workforce reduction initiative, thus eliminating his 12-year career in that firm. We didn’t understand it. In our hearts, we wanted to hold on to a puny teddy bear, not realizing that God had a much better job behind his back. He rewarded our faithfulness with the job that would allow us to be in a position to move to the home we never imagined we could have.
As you read this column today, you may find yourself in a situation where something or someone you love is slowly (or rapidly) slipping through your fingers. Or maybe you feel convicted to open your hands and give away something that you think you cannot live without. If that is you, I hope my story and the popular meme about God’s gifts encourage you to open your hands, surrender whatever you are holding on to, and realize that God is not saying “no” to your dreams. He’s just saying: “Trust me. I’ve got something better.”
[bctt tweet=”God is not saying ‘NO’ to your dreams. He’s just saying: ‘Trust me. I’ve got something better.’ @AJC #MondayMotivation #Mondaydevotional #Godisincontrol #Godsbest” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Coming from someone who has proven and tested this truth time and again, I can certainly tell you: You don’t want to miss it.
This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – August 15, 2020.
[bctt tweet=”‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:9 @AJC #MondayMotivation #Mondaydevotional #Godisincontrol #Godsbest” username=”PatHolbrook”]
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Wonderful testimony, Patricia! Yes, God always has something better for us when we are willing to let go and trust Him.
Blessings!
Thank you, Martha! And thanks for always encouraging me with your sweet comments! Have a blessed weekend!
Beautiful dear Patricia and Yes Our Father Always have something better for us. Only if we keep waiting on Him and having Faith.
Amen, dear Lilly! Our only task is to fix our eyes upon Jesus and keep walking by faith and not by sight! Love to you!
Patricia,
Thank you for the work that you do! Your words spoke to me this morning. As I go through certain life changes right now, I am encouraged and I gain strength from God’s word that you share and how He has blessed your family through your faithfulness. I love you Lady!!!
Linda
Praise Jesus that this encouraged you today, Linda! Much love to you,
What a blessed truth that God is always up to something good, even when circumstances don’t seem especially good.
If only we could see our circumstances from God’s perspective, we would certainly be “still” more often and trust Him blindly and fully.Always a blessing to see you here, Barb!
I think back to a “teddy bear” that I thought I needed more than anything. I am SO thankful now that God helped me hand it over because I got back something much more precious in return. Oh, to trust more in his goodness!
Oh, those puny teddy bears that we thought to be the very best in the store I have one or two that I am so grateful I left behind! Thanks for participating, Lisa!
Patricia, I love the thought of God having something better for us! It brings much comfort for times of trials, valley-experiences and dreams going unmet.
Yes, Karen! We need to remind our hearts of the countless times she showed up and fulfilled His promises, and they shout to the mountain that He will do it again!
Patricia, your testimony inspires me. I love hearing the rest of the story of how God is always more than we can imagine.
Yes, my friend! All we have to do is obey and trust! Or trust and obey Love to you!
what a gift to speak into these tender places out of experience. So grateful for the blessings you are walking in today!
Amen, Rebecca! God is so faithful and so good I feel like shouting!
I loved your post today. It’s so true! In 2011, I prayed for God to save my home from flooding. He saw fit to allow it to be flooded with a foot of water. But out of that experience came so many blessings, I can’t even list them all – both materially and physically. I sure don’t want to go through it again; but I still know who I can trust!
I can relate, Jerralea! It’s like one of Hillsong’s new songs that I keep singing these days: “And should I ever need reminding how good You’ve been to me, I’ll count the joy come every battle, ’cause I know that’s where you’ll be.” Praise Him!
So blessed by your story!
It’s clear that we really have no idea how greatly loved we are.
So so true… His love is unfathomable indeed! Thanks for participating, Michele!
I needed this motivation today. Thank you.
You are so welcome, Lauren! God always knows what we need to hear. Thanks for participating!!
Praise God for His faithfulness and good surprises! Every time I hear bits of your story I just smile at Gods kindness, Patricia. Thanks for sharing and happy home- settling!
Thank you, dear Bethany! I pray you’re settling in your new location as well!!
Patricia, you know my story! Yes, The Lord does always have something better if we will trust Him and be obedient!!! Obedience is greater than sacrifice! Chasity
Amen, dear friend!! We are living proof that God is faithful to His promises!