If God Can Raise a Man From the Dead, Why Can’t He Keep My Crockpot From Falling?

(This post was written a few years ago. It’s amazing to look back and see that God’s hand was indeed at work through that season.)
It’s been a season of waiting. I’m accustomed to living simply but it seems that any source of Earthly comfort is being taken away. Medical concerns have drained us financially and emotionally.  Not gonna lie. It’s hard.

As the feelings of despair and worry began to grow, the oven broke. Oh, yes it did.  I preheated the oven for dinner and as I opened the door, I felt no heat greeting me.  Are you kidding me?  My panic began but stopped when I remembered my husband’s handyman gifts and ability to fix most things.  My mind focused on him coming home.  Of course, I look forward to seeing him but this was urgent!

Scott can fix it.  Scott can fix it.

Except he couldn’t.  It meant ordering a part that would take a week to come in. Well, then.

What do we do now? Eat out? Nope. Well…..we have a microwave and a Crockpot. 

Hmm. quick flashback. I remember those early days of adulthood. Living by myself and filling my stomach with microwave meals or soup mix made with boiling water. The “make-do” lifestyle of a college student and or early twenty-something seemed OK at the time. But now, married and three kids later, not so much. The novelty and the humor of it has worn off.

Ironically the annual church soup  supper was coming up in a few days so I had planned on making corn chowder in the Crockpot. I decided to make enough to have leftovers for meals for the coming week.

And then it happened.

In an attempt to carry things out to the car after the soup supper, the pot seemed to slip out of my hands. Glass shattered everywhere; including in the soup. Really?!. 

Do you ever have a moment when you honestly don’t know whether to laugh or cry?

And then it occurred to me…

 If God can raise a man from the dead, why can’t He keep my Crockpot from falling? It’s a legitimate question. I realize, of course, that there are others in much more dire circumstances who plea for God’s interaction and rightly so. However, I also am aware that God knows what’s going on in my life. At this moment, it seems as if every comfort (not lavish) is being removed. And the stress of a sick child, the needs of the whole family, financial distress and worry make living bare bones a challenge.

Fast forward a few months:

 I resolved to fight the spiritual battle that surrounds me (us) on a daily basis. With that in mind, I try to be conscious of keeping that as a priority in prayer as well as be discerning in the moments and routine of daily life. Last week (well, every week actually), that routine included running to the grocery store.  Off I went.

Within minutes of arriving, I received a call from my daughter screaming in pain. My mind began racing: appendicitis? No more health problems! is what came to mind along with the urgent desire to relieve her pain.

Quickly, I headed home, drove in the driveway and proceeded to take the groceries out of the car. With my desire to fight away any attacks from evil, I declared “Satan you will not win!” and with that said, I found myself flat on the ground, face first, slipping on ice that was not apparent. I am not kidding. Thinking I broke my nose and knocked out my teeth, I left the groceries and tumbled in the house.

If God can raise a man from the dead, why couldn’t He keep my Crockpot (and me) from falling?

Reluctantly, I looked in the mirror and found my nose a bit bruised and my teeth intact. Could I have been kept from falling? I believe so. Could I have been hurt worse? I know so. I will claim an unseen victory.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.“  Ephesians 6:12

I may not always have control over my situations.  I may even become frustrated and even angry over my circumstances.  But hope is found in keeping my eyes on the One who knows everything about me and has promised to fight for me.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6)

God, your Creator, the One who knows the number of hairs on your head, has your back. You have spiritual weapons at your ready. Refuse to go down the path of discouragement and hopelessness. That’s where Satan wants you.  Fight! You Got This!