I took a walk the other day. God blessed me with a walk was on the beach (yippee!!!). I inhaled; it was peace. I listened to the pounding of waves, the strength of his wind and the might of his strong-hitting waves. All was good.
I passed a woman. She sat in a camping chair pressed against the rolling waves, bible in her lap, head down with a bandana around it. As I saw her, something in me called to reach out to something in her. I almost felt as if there was something God wanted to say to her, but I hadn't the faintest idea what, so I kept walking.
It wasn't until about 100 feet away that something struck me. I suppose it was the word - "faithfulness." I looked down at my little footmarks in the sand, leading forward. I decided they needed to do "a turnaround." They needed to loop back. They needed to address something.
But what God? What am I supposed to say?
His nudge was: pray.
Feeling all happy that God has great ideas, I went over and asked my sister in Christ if she needed prayer. Her feeble head lifted up slowly from her phone and she said, "Yes, my husband is in the hospital with a heart condition and I need strength."
Indeed. Of course she does. Of course God knew. He always does. He also knew this prayer time, as she stated, would be "just what she needed,” a "confirmation from God."
I’ve been realizing the turnaround is powerful. Because for once, I've been doing it...
I made some ongoing rash judgments about people.
Turnaround: After much stomping of my feet, I apologized.
I was quick to respond when tiredness, hunger and overwhelming feelings conquered me. I normally brush my reactions aside.
Turnaround: I've been seeing truth for truth. These days, I've been humbling myself and saying sorry.
I forgot friends. I don't want to get caught up in my world, but I do.
Turnaround: I've asked God to help face them (despite my shame).
To turnaround is to see God again. It’s to face him outside of the realm of shame, and let him welcome you to healing, whether it belongs to you or someone else.
Where do you need to turn around? Where are your foot marks in the sand headed? Your way? Or home, into God's arms?
He never hurts children who've done bad. He welcomes you in. He'll lead you to his better thing. He'll nudge you with the words to speak. He'll uncover the greatness of freedom in the error of your ways.
"Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil." (Joel 2:13)
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