Just a Girl With Her Bible

Yesterday I had breakfast with a dear friend. We typically meet on Wednesday. We talk about the books we are reading, our life’s adventures, our families, kids, and, of course, the Bible.

We like trying new restaurants, but sometimes we enjoy the familiarity of going to the same restaurant, eating the same food, and seeing the same waitress.

To be honest, when my friend chose this restaurant, I wanted to go somewhere else. I thought about asking her if we could pick somewhere else, but decided to let it go.

Why not just go? I loved spending time with her! So wherever she chose would work.

I was running a little behind and feeling frazzled by all the things I couldn’t get done before breakfast. My routine was completely disrupted, and so were my thoughts.

Finally, I made it to the restaurant, and we just sat and talked. We talked about our disappointments and fears that things weren’t happening as quickly as we thought they should. We laughed at times, and at other times the conversation felt heavy as we tried to work through what we thought God was doing.

I thought about the word I had seen several times in The Gospel According to Mark. The word “immediately” rang over and over again in my thoughts.

Here we are discussing God’s timeline and what we want to happen now.

I brought up the word “immediately” in the Gospel According to Mark to her. Mark uses this word about 41 to 42 times, and I have been wondering for a while what he meant and how it relates to our current situation.

A restaurant patron who was leaving stopped us and asked what we were talking about in the Bible. I told him about the word “immediately” in Mark, and we wondered why he used it so many times.

The man’s name was Ed, and he said he would explain it to us. He was so gentle and kind, leading us through the scripture to explain what this word means. Our hearts were lifted and rejuvenated as he explained one simple word.

The word “immediately” took on a whole new meaning.

He showed us what Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) says:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

I am sure the beaming lights were flickering all around us.

What seemed like a delay began to look different. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His character never changes, even when His timing is different from what we expect. We are to trust with faith and continue on the path He has placed us on while delighting in His presence.

Then we asked Ed to pray over us. Again, he was gentle, sweet, and authentic in his prayer for us, leading us to God’s glory.

All Ed asked in return is that when we talk to God, we tell Him, “Ed said hi!”

We were blessed, but the story doesn’t end here.

Once Ed left, the couple sitting at the table next to us began talking to us about God. We just landed in another great conversation about the Lord. The more we spoke to this couple, the more we felt we were experiencing the hand of God.

Little did this couple know that their willingness to join our conversation would bring encouragement to my friend in an area where she had been feeling disappointed. I watched her eyes lift with hope and determination to not give up.

I always say, “You can’t make this stuff up even if you tried!”

This was the favor of the Lord!

Yet, I am humbled that the God of the heavens and earth would be mindful of me. Psalm 8:4 (NKJV) poured through my heart as all this was going on:

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

Psalm 8:4 (NKJV)

It brings me to Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV):

“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”

Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)

We almost missed this tremendous blessing because I wanted to go somewhere else!

When we finally had to leave the restaurant, we walked away like two small children giggling and in awe of what just happened. We were lifted and encouraged through simple obedience and a willing heart to receive.