This morning a scripture hit me between the eyes. Does that ever happen to you? I hope so because it is God’s way of getting into your heart to help you meditate and move forward in your faith. The scripture is Isaiah 45:3 – “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
There are a couple of things in this little verse that speak to me in my widowhood. The idea of hidden treasures is always something to give you excitement. The mystery of it being hidden makes you want to go on a treasure hunt to look for it. Throughout history, there are so many stories of people who hear of a treasure hidden on an island or elsewhere and spend all their time and money in an effort to find it.
But notice, God says He will GIVE us hidden treasure. We don’t have to look for it; however, it often escapes us. The idea of being a widow was not one I thought of as a treasure. I was certainly not spending my marriage looking forward to the day I would become a widow even though we know as women it will probably come. But God has given me so many treasures in my new life. The treasure of completing a book and seeing it in print is totally because of God in my life. The purpose He has given me to share His story is a treasure. When I think back on the 22 months of the stroke, God gave us a treasure of a very special and intimate relationship–the height of our marriage of love. Wow, the treasures come into my life if I am open to God bringing them.
And these treasures are hidden in secret places. The story of the Secret Garden is such a great story. A special place where these children could be alone in their private place. I often feel my garden is a secret place–one where God meets me to talk and deepen my faith and wisdom. But even those the treasures are hidden in the secret places, God is guiding us there to find them.
The other part of this verse tells us God summons us by name. That is amazing to me. There is supposed to be 7.8 billion people in the world this year. And yet, God calls me by name. He knows me personally. He knows the days when grief hits the hardest. He knows every tear I shed–every one! He recounts my hairs every morning after I shampoo it and several fall out. What an amazing God who wants that kind of personal relationship with ME! That is itself is a treasure. And it is a treasure you can have too.
Today I am grateful for:
- A beautiful sunshiny day after almost 2 inches of rain yesterday.
- Zoom for the 3 Bible studies I have going during the pandemic.
- The garden coming alive with life and blossoms.
- God helping people re-prioritize their lives during the pandemic.
- Being free of the virus at this point.
- A great study of Abigail and a deep Beth Moore study.
- Having enough money during this time to take care of my needs.
- Church services online to keep us connected.
- Our international students and how they enrich our lives.
- The hidden treasures God keeps helping me find.
- Knowing me by name!
