God has a way of surprising us, doesn’t He?

Just when you think you know why He has called you to go somewhere and do a certain predetermined thing, God comes in with His own agenda. It can be arresting, certainly, especially for those of us who would consider ourselves planners. It also can be delightful – enough to bring tears of thanksgiving when we let God have His way with us.

I had one of those moments recently while attending the CLASS Christian Writers Conference out at the (Holy) Ghost Ranch, in Abiquiu, New Mexico, as a workshop leader and as one of the singers on the nightly worship team, led by the beautiful and talented Melodie Griffin.

It was our final night, and all week I was sensing the spirit of the Lord move upon me. He was bringing security to this semi-vagabond. I knew God was moving me on to new things – that has been the theme of my life now for the past eight months. In fact, that verse about “springs coming forth from the desert” in Isaiah was the conference theme verse. And in the dusty and dry surroundings of the ranch, I tasted His refreshment.

During ministry at the altar, when we as writers were asked to lay our writing and speaking abilities (our crowns) down at the feet of the Lord and ask for His timing and His ways above our own methods, there was a pause. Our keynote speaker, Craig von Buseck, asked our prayer leader, Bill Gaultiere, to speak a word over us. He wisely made a space for God to speak to our hearts.

It didn’t take long for the Lord to tell me His thoughts. And – wow! – was I surprised on what He said.

Hey, Kiddo, the Lord began. I am proud of you.

Touched by His words, my eyes began to gush with overwhelming joy in a flood of tears. My sister and my father both used that term of endearment “kiddo” with me growing up. Being the youngest in the family, it always made me smile and feel like warm inside. Papa God was being tender, and it was amazing.

I am proud of your flexibility and how you struggled to revise your plans and face your fears to come here and teach. I am so proud of you!

My heart melted. It had been a while since I had experienced tenderness in my life. Up to that point, my days were often silent, lonely, and particularly brutal, as I tried to deal with obstacle after obstacle and discover the Lord’s will for my life.

In all honesty, what I really needed was to know that God saw me and that I was pleasing the Lord. And hearing those words made up for the lack of direction and even the trials that would surely come upon my return home – trials like my current cough and weariness as I sit and type on my keyboard this message that I hope will give you a sense of reassurance about the God we serve.

If you are waiting for God’s displeasure, maybe it’s time to revise that perspective. Perhaps the Lord also wants to whisper to you, Well done, good and faithful servant.

Will you make the space today to sit at His throne and openly accept His personal words of love for you?

– Laura J. Bagby