Overheard
By Debbie Simler-Goff
My friend Samantha* has always believed in
God but often struggled that Jesus Christ was
the only path to heaven. She believed in the
Bible – but not as the absolute authority.
Through our Bible study together she came to
understand the sovereignty of God and His holy
word. And she began to attend church regularly.
And then her grandson, Ethan* was born
without a third of his brain.
The shock and dismay of it all was devastating
to Samantha and her family. Her mind was
flooded with so many questions: How long
would Ethan live? Would he ever walk, talk or
ride a bicycle? And then finally: How could God
do this to us?
And that’s when the anger set in.
“I’m [expletive] at God.” She told me. And she
was. Her whole demeanor changed. It was a
challenge for Samantha to reconcile her new
found acceptance of God’s sovereignty with the
death sentence her cherished grandson had
been given. And for awhile she backed away
from God. She quit going to church. She quit
reading her Bible. But she kept talking to God –
venting mostly – but communicating
nonetheless.
And it was her heartfelt talking to God that
brought about a remarkable change.
The other day, I overheard someone ask
Samantha how her grandson was doing. To my
surprise, Samantha's response lacked her
former bitterness and resentment: “Ethan’s
doing great.” She told them. “He’s healthy for
his condition, and he’s the happiest little guy you’
d ever want to meet.”
The other person then asked about Ethan’s
future, the reality that Ethan’s disease could be
terminal. Samantha responded with: “I don’t
know what God has planned for Ethan but I
know God’s got it all figured out.”
I was so proud of Samantha! As her Bible
teacher, I’d walked with her through Ethan’s
birth and diagnosis. It gave me great joy to
overhear her telling of God’s sovereignty – a
truth that was hard fought for her.
And then it occurred to me that God was proud
of Samantha too. How pleased it must’have
made God to hear Samantha’s responses.
And how pleased God is when our responses
are just as faith filled. We may not have a
disabled grandson, but disappointment or
tragedy come to all of us eventually.
And so my question to you – and to myself is –
what conversations does God overhear when it
is our turn to deal with struggles? Let's
determine today to always let God overhear us
telling of His goodness no matter what!
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of conversation;”
(I Peter 1:15)
By Debbie Simler-Goff
My friend Samantha* has always believed in
God but often struggled that Jesus Christ was
the only path to heaven. She believed in the
Bible – but not as the absolute authority.
Through our Bible study together she came to
understand the sovereignty of God and His holy
word. And she began to attend church regularly.
And then her grandson, Ethan* was born
without a third of his brain.
The shock and dismay of it all was devastating
to Samantha and her family. Her mind was
flooded with so many questions: How long
would Ethan live? Would he ever walk, talk or
ride a bicycle? And then finally: How could God
do this to us?
And that’s when the anger set in.
“I’m [expletive] at God.” She told me. And she
was. Her whole demeanor changed. It was a
challenge for Samantha to reconcile her new
found acceptance of God’s sovereignty with the
death sentence her cherished grandson had
been given. And for awhile she backed away
from God. She quit going to church. She quit
reading her Bible. But she kept talking to God –
venting mostly – but communicating
nonetheless.
And it was her heartfelt talking to God that
brought about a remarkable change.
The other day, I overheard someone ask
Samantha how her grandson was doing. To my
surprise, Samantha's response lacked her
former bitterness and resentment: “Ethan’s
doing great.” She told them. “He’s healthy for
his condition, and he’s the happiest little guy you’
d ever want to meet.”
The other person then asked about Ethan’s
future, the reality that Ethan’s disease could be
terminal. Samantha responded with: “I don’t
know what God has planned for Ethan but I
know God’s got it all figured out.”
I was so proud of Samantha! As her Bible
teacher, I’d walked with her through Ethan’s
birth and diagnosis. It gave me great joy to
overhear her telling of God’s sovereignty – a
truth that was hard fought for her.
And then it occurred to me that God was proud
of Samantha too. How pleased it must’have
made God to hear Samantha’s responses.
And how pleased God is when our responses
are just as faith filled. We may not have a
disabled grandson, but disappointment or
tragedy come to all of us eventually.
And so my question to you – and to myself is –
what conversations does God overhear when it
is our turn to deal with struggles? Let's
determine today to always let God overhear us
telling of His goodness no matter what!
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of conversation;”
(I Peter 1:15)
| Debbie Simler-Goff |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Author & Speaker
| Freelance Writer & Speaker Debbie Simler-Goff has a love for Jesus and a heart for souls. She writes with a vulnerability that encourages others to open up to the truths she longs to share. It is her nature to uplift and motivate others to be all they were created to be. Debbie's heartfelt prayer is that you will find something on this site to encourage and inspire you. Please EMAIL Debbie your thoughts on how to make this site a virtual refreshment. |
| Morning Musings "Woe to the generation of sons who find their censers empty of the rich incense of prayer; whose fathers have been too busy or too unbelieving to pray. Perils inexpressible and consequences untold are their unhappy heritage. Fortunate are they whose fathers and mothers have left them a wealthy patrimony of prayer." -E.M. Bounds Oh God, compel us to pray! Nothing matters without the scent of your presence upon it. We humbly ask you to protect our children today and every day. Shower them with your blessings. Cover them in your anointing. Send angels to go before them into their schools. Shine Your light in the dark places that await them. Cause a deep urging within us. Make us to shake off apathy and cry out often and long on behalf of our children. In Your precious name. AMEN -By Debbie Simler-Goff |
| Personal Blog |
| Follow Me On |
JOSEY "The Informer"