The Vanishing

You might know that my laptop went missing recently. I have a habit of misplacing things so I didn’t think too much of it initially. But after almost a week and after many days of turning my house inside out and upside down… I finally declared my laptop missing and LOST!

 I found myself recalling all the times I have lost items before.

 Like the time my keys disappeared. I suspected toddlers may have played a part in the mystery and sure enough they were found tucked inside the seat of the swing in the backyard! If nothing else, it gave us a little giggle (not too mention more than a little angst).

 Or what about the time I couldn’t find my glasses? I wandered the house for a good length of time before I realised I was already wearing my glasses! Heads up… if this happens to you, it might be a good time to get your eyes tested again!

 I also thought about the times when I’ve scoured the house and the items have just not been found anywhere. Each and every time an item goes missing in our house, we ask God where to look. This is how we found the keys. This is how we’ve found multiple item. iPods folded up inside sofa beds and items that spontaneously appear in open doorways…

 One of my favourites is the time my son’s Maternal and Child Health book was nowhere to be found. I asked God and He clearly said it was at the Maternal and Child Health office. I called and asked if I had left it there. Alas she did not have it and we recorded immunisations and check-ups in a new book. Many months later, our Maternal and Child Health Nurse called. She said, “It’s the funniest thing. I’ve rearranged my office and had to move my filing cabinet and when I did I found your son’s book behind it!” See… God knew exactly where it was! I told her God had said it was in her office and we had a laugh!

 This morning I was chatting with God about my laptop. I knew we could replace it with insurance at the cost of our excess (and truthfully I probably would have ended up with a better and more expensive replacement), but I was thinking about the files I had on there that I had not backed up. Like PowerPoint files that I had removed from my cloud storage when it wasn’t behaving the way it should…sections of my book that I was still “umming and ahhing” about whether to include or not (because it felt too raw and revealing) and a Bible Study that had just begun to develop and take shape. I found myself highly valuing my time and my work!

 Clearly I am responsible for my laptop. Clearly I have a track record of losing things. I had given my best effort to tracking it down (as I felt to do). I contacted places I had been. I visited the police station. I posted on social media. I asked praying people to pray. But the thing was… I had no recollection of leaving it anywhere and I didn’t know whether it might even have been stolen.

 So I said to God, “You know where my laptop is. I have testimony upon testimony of the lost being found, so I know You can place it back into my hands and I declare that you can do it again. But. Even if I never get it back, I know that You are good. I know that You will somehow turn the loss into my good for Your glory. I release my laptop into Your hands. I thank you for the outcome… whatever that may be.”

I felt completely peaceful. I actually felt excited! I know. I know. You’re probably shaking your head asking, “WHY?!”

Well, I’ll tell you why! It’s because I felt so excited to have this opportunity to trust God with my money. And my time. And my work. And the feeling of vulnerability that came with the thought of my files being accessed without my permission.

 Immediately following this exchange with God, I checked my phone. A very short message flashed across the screen. Hang on a second! What did that say?!

 I had left an enquiry about my laptop with our builder. He had just replied with six words I never thought I’d be so excited to read!, “Hi Lynelle. Is it a MacBook?”

 Yes! Yes it is!

 My laptop was found! At a display home no less! I had actually been at this location but I don’t recall removing my laptop from the car?  I am yet to collect said laptop and I’m yet to find out where it was found. Right now I am just glad the lost has once again been found!

I find myself feeling thankful.

 Thankful that I will now have opportunity to work out my cloud storage and create a new system for backing up all my files.

 Thankful that I now have a renewed value for my work!

 Thankful that God continues to grow me and my trust muscle.

 Thankful that when I am powerless to effect the outcome, God is working strong on my behalf.

 Thankful that on this occasion the outcome is one that immediately feels favourable from my limited human perspective.

 Thankful that (either way) God is indeed good.

I am inspired and challenged to keep trusting God in all things.. the small things AND the big things…

 Thankful that as I trust God with my laptop, He has been empowering me to trust Him as my car (that won’t start) is currently being towed away to be assessed and fixed.

And to trust God as we work on a new house to live in!

I will keep choosing to trust and to bring my circumstances before Him and release them into His care. Does this mean I won’t ever worry again? I’m sure that opportunities to worry will come and I’m sure at times I will experience angst and concern and worry and fear, but I also know that I can come to God and ask Him to show me my circumstances through His eyes. To see what He is doing and partner with Him in it. And to decree His word as He reveals it and to stand on my developed history with Him and to prophetically declare the testimony of His goodness to be released again in my life.

I think of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24… 

Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. Give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.)  Do not try to stop the work of the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophetic messages. Do not laugh at those who speak for God. Test everything and do not let good things get away from you. Keep away from everything that even looks like sin.

May the God of peace set you apart for Himself. May every part of you be set apart for God. May your spirit and your soul and your body be kept complete. May you be without blame when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. The One Who called you is faithful and will do what He promised.

If. God. said it.

HE. WILL. DO. IT!

He. is. faithful.

AND. TRUE.

I can thank God no matter what happens.

TODAY.

I am. MOST. thankful…

…that. with. God.

THE. LOST. CAN. BE. FOUND...

…but that’s another story for another day!