I’m joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. All of us writing on that same word.
Today the word prompt is … Visit.
Visit has often been thought of as a social call – you know the kind. You go stay with a friend or family member for a period of time to catch up on life. Those are often looked forward to and anticipated with excitement.
Looking up the word, visit, in the dictionary, I discovered this definition … “to go to for the purpose of official inspection or examination” (dictionary.com). Now that is a visit of a whole other color and probably not as eagerly anticipated. These would include the likes of dentists, doctors, teacher conferences even.
Yesterday we had an unexpected visit to go pay. It included an unscheduled ride and in our minds, one which could have been avoided had things worked out differently or had we been the ones to do the planning.
So we may have done a little grumbling, probably a lot of out loud complaining even. Just being honest. But off we went to our visit.
On the way home from our visit, we were singing a most different song. No complaining. Only praise. Only gratitude.
The visit was not of our choosing. The visit was not convenient. The visit was tiring. But the lesson learned yesterday ….
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)
God was with us, guiding our steps, while we were yet totally unaware. He knew where we needed to visit and exactly who we were to visit. He was protecting and making provision behind the scenes.
 He works everything.
For the good.
Even the hard visits.
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Fellowship Friday and Everyday Jesus and Faith Filled Friday and Dance With Jesus .
I am so quick to forget this – He truly does work all things for our good and His glory. Thank you for sharing this.
We do forget which is why I am so grateful for prompts which remind me 🙂
Such a great truth to know and understand ~ Jesus is with us and working for our good … even in the hard visits 🙂 #FMFParty #DanceWithJesus
Maybe even more so in the hard visits. So grateful for His patience with us.
Yes, we do quickly forget how he works all things for our good…thanks for sharing your “visit” post…mine is yet to be done – grandma stuff last night!!
Grandma stuff always trumps writing 🙂 Those little ones so need our attention.
I’m not much of a visiter ;). I hate visiting the dentist, the doctor, and just about any other ‘official’ place like that ;). I’m glad your visit turned out well–God often works in ways that we don’t understand, and it’s always nice when we get a glimpse of the ‘why’!
Anita, I am so with you on this. I’d rather visit at a coffee shop any day over these other visits. But one thing I will say, I continue to be amazed at how our God shines brightest in these unwanted visits. So much I need to learn & remember!. Praying for you & yours today!
Joanne, I totally get this– a thousand times over. I don’t know how many times my flesh/enemy tries to keep me from going to visit people/places etc on God’s behalf. But He always turns it around and makes my heart sing praise. Awesome perspective.
Sharita, it is so true how the enemy or our own flesh will keep us from going to visit. But then, once we do it, we are the ones who walk away blessed.
What a creative twist to the #fmfparty prompt! I’m sorry for your hard visit yesterday. Those hard visits aren’t so much fun, but God uses us when we make them. I’m sure he used you yesterday.
Betsy, He may have used me, not sure. But I do know this, the greater blessing was probably mine as I was blessed to realize He was with me.
Five minutes well spent!
Thank you. You always make me smile, Michele!
Yes! Oh how I grumble when going on those visits where I’m expecting the worst, but God is so faithful! So many times I leave praising God and repenting for being a complainer:) Thank you for sharing this!
Kristine, it is so true. And something it seems so many of us experience. Grateful you stopped & shared!
Your post makes me think of all the preconceived notions we create over situations that we do not want to be a part of in our lives. We commence the grumbling because it feels good at the moment and then reluctantly proceed. The number of times that we realized we wasted a lot of time grumbling that could have been used in another way probably outweigh the the actual times that the situation was truly difficult. I am glad that your visit turned into a praise! Happy weekend friend!
Oh Mary, it is so true that much time is wasted grumbling. So grateful He turns things around & blesses us even when we don’t deserve it. Grateful you shared!
Love what Mary said above…amen! It’s so true that we dread and often complain about situations God calls us to do that are out of our comfort zone. More times than I can remember these situations have been a blessing! Wonderful words Joanne! ♥
Blessings for a joyful weekend!!
Denise, we dread situations & grumble about them when we are pushed out of our comfort zone. And yet, the only way for our comfort zone to enlarge is to be pushed out 🙂 May I remember this the next time He pushes me out there!
I love that you looked up the definition. I like to do that too. It often surprises me some of the many meanings. Sometimes the word means something other than I thought. I forgot about doctor and dentist visits,
I felt the dread of your visit and your trust in God. It makes me think of a time when my then 2-year-old son realized what could happen on the other side of the door at the pediatricians office. He tried his hardest to put on the brakes. I am not too different when I think something not-so-nice is going to happen. Trusting in God is the only way to go. And, as you wrote, God provides what we need each step of the way. Thank you for the encouragement as I enter a difficult season of life. (I hope it is a short season, but I want my roots to grow deeper in faith and trust in Him through it. It may be longer than I’d like.)
I’m your neighbor from FMF.
Cheryl, thank you for sharing with me. I hope your difficult season will be a short one but one which yields more of His Presence in your life. This morning I read Psalm 145 & your comment brought back to mind verse 14 & 18, “The Lord helps the fallen & lifts those bent beneath their loads. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.” (NLT) It is amazing how our God knows the weight of our load & lifts us up. He never leaves us alone but remains close. Blessings!
Thank you.