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Life runs along mostly predictably for many of us. Yes, we have things tucked into the far corners of our minds about health and retirement and so on. But when a family has a medical crisis, these thoughts instantly find their way back into everyday thinking, as life changes immediately to meet this need.

For two weeks in August, this was our world: juggling hospital visits and hospital meetings, making decisions about prospective new living arrangements for my father-in-law, taking care of a pet, and, oh yes, fitting family and work into the day.

I tend to find that when events like this bring a change to my routine, I forget where my anchor is and Who my anchor is, and I live moment by moment. For three days, I had this sentence in my head: "Greater is He Who is living in me, than he who is living in the world." I was waking up with this sentence in my head, and it kept popping into my head throughout the day and evenings. Finally on the fourth day, I searched the Bible to see if this was a verse.

1 John 4:4 – You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV)

Later that day as I was driving with the radio on, a song by MercyMe came on the radio called "Greater". A few minutes into the song, the lyrics I heard were:
'Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world

(written by Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Ben Glover, David Garcia, Jim Bryson, Mike Scheuchzer, Nathan Cochran, and Robby Shaffer)
What a truth to hear and to hold onto when the world is crashing in on us! I was humbled how the Lord first used the Scripture, and when this didn't get my attention, the same words in a song. This caused the U-turn moment for me right then and there.

What about you? How is the Lord working a U-turn in you? If this is a difficult time for you, have you noticed what or who the Lord is putting in your life to help you navigate and provide a U-turn back to Him? I believe that He is constantly providing U-turn opportunities in the lives of those who call Him their own.

Psalm 85.8 – I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants — but let them not turn to folly. (NIV 2011)

Let us pray and ask the Lord to use us as His vessels to provide U-turn moments that will take people to Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You care so much for us that You give us Scripture and songs as well as people that guide us back to You. Help each of us always to be a vessel for this world in all that we say and do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles
Barrie, Ontario, Canada