How to Stay Close to God in the Midst of the Unexpected

Do you stay close to God in the midst of the unexpected? Of course, we would all like to say, “always.” However, I imagine at times, the Lord may seem far away. The good news is He is always near, whether we feel Him or not. Yet, perhaps a few specific practices may help you draw closer to the One who can make a difference.

Lois Flowers is our guest today, sharing a time when she experienced tremendous losses. At the time, she started a practice that became a lifeline. Lois so graciously shares this simple way in hopes we, too, will have a plan to draw close to God when the unexpected comes our way.

Discover a simple way to stay close to God when the unexpected comes your way. #unexpected #embracetheunexpectedseries #embracingtheunexpected Click To Tweet

How to Stay Close to God in the Midst of the Unexpected

Written by Lois Flowers

In early 2017, after many months of bewildering behavioral changes and physical declines, our family learned that my mom had Alzheimer’s dementia. By this time, she exhibited nearly all of the 10 early warning signs on the Alzheimer’s Association website. (That might indicate how far off the radar screen this was for my dad and the rest of us.)

Later that spring, my mom had a terrible accident at home, which landed her in the burn unit of a Kansas City hospital, followed by long-term care. A year and a half after that—in December 2018—my dad’s health took a heartbreaking turn for the worse, and he ended up rooming with my mom in the same nursing home.  

Although his condition often seemed more dire than hers, my mom died on April 19, 2019. Five weeks later, my dad followed her to heaven.  

As you might imagine, there are stories surrounding each and every one of these sad events. As the daughter who lived closest, I had the bittersweet privilege of handling all their affairs, while also trying to care for my household, husband and two teenage daughters.

It was the most intense and exhausting season of my life thus far. It also was the period when God’s presence and character were most comforting and stabilizing.

Of course, it didn’t always seem God was near in the heat of the stressful moments. I’m guessing you can relate, even if your list of unexpected experiences is vastly different from mine.

We are frail, finite humans.

“Even the most theologically astute among us can reach points where God seems distant and we feel as if we're hanging on to our faith by a thread.” —Lois Flowers  #faith Click To Tweet

I’m no expert on how to stay close to God in the midst of the unexpected. The very fact that I’m writing for this series makes me chuckle, given how inflexible and resistant to change I was for much of my life.

And yet, in His tender mercy and grace, God has seen fit to allow things in my life that left me no choice but to stretch and, if not embrace change wholeheartedly, at least handle it a bit better. He has always brought me through my hard times, and He will bring you through yours too.

It’s normal to feel isolated, numb, distracted and out of sorts during seasons that aren’t going according to any possible plan we ever dreamed of. 

But none of this changes the fact that God is close to us, whether or not we think we are close to Him.  

Lois Flowers

Psalm 34:18 spells it out plainly: He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV) This truth is a pillar that steadies us, no matter how we feel on any given day or moment.

Even so, when life takes an unexpected turn, it can be helpful to have something to do—a hands-on task we can incorporate into our daily routine—that fosters a greater sense of closeness between our heavenly Father and us.

For example, a few weeks after my family learned of my mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I decided to start writing down the names and descriptions of God as I read through my Bible. I don’t remember how I came up with this idea. But there it is, at the top of a page in the middle of a partially used notebook: “Who is God? How the Bible Describes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.“

I began in the first chapter of Revelation, where I happened to be in my regular Bible-reading plan. Day after day, as I read the assigned Old or New Testament chapters along with a Psalm or Proverb. I copied down every reference to God I came across.

Father of the fatherless. The awe-inspiring One. My strong refuge. The sustainer of my life. The One who steadies the pillars of the earth. Our lawgiver, king and judge. The God who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him. 

And so on.

Days after my mom’s accident, when she was in the burn unit facing a tenuous future, I read Psalm 94:17-18: “If the Lord had not been my help, I would soon rest in the silence of death. If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy.” (HCSB)

A year and a half later, just after my dad had entered long-term care, I again found myself in the same section of scripture, where I read this: “Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. … But You are the same, and Your years will never end. Your servants’ children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before You.” (Psalm 102:25-28, HCSB)

By the time I circled back around to where I had started in my Bible, both of my parents had died. And we were on the brink of a worldwide pandemic. The date at the end of the Book of Jude brings tears to my eyes: March 3, 2020.

Never would I have dreamed that the previous three years would have turned out the way they did. Nor could I have ever imagined what the coming months would bring. But God knew. Through the seemingly random idea to make that list, He had given me a lifeline that kept my heart grounded and my faith alive.

And if it worked for me, it can work for you too.

During unexpected and overwhelming seasons, the last thing we need is a burdensome devotional routine. Reading a chapter or two every day, with the express purpose of getting to know God better, is neither complicated nor time-consuming.  

All you need is a Bible, a pen and a notebook.

If you’re feeling adventurous, start in the Book of Revelation. Don’t focus on imagery, eschatology or how all the bizarre scenes might play out someday. Simply look for Jesus.

How to stay close to God in the midst of the unexpected isn't as hard as we think. Discover a method that carried Lois Flowers through a season of pain and beyond. #pain #unexpected #embracetheunexpectedseries Click To Tweet

Next, move on to the Psalms, which contain multiple references to God and His character in almost every chapter. Keep listing and underlining. The more you do this, the more the truth about God sinks in and becomes part of your subconscious, your whispered or journaled prayers, your worship. 

At times, it might seem like you’re simply going through the motions, but that too can have its benefits. (Think of the marathon runner who pounds out 10 miles every day whether she feels like it or not.)

On the other hand, when you start keeping track of God’s names, you may find yourself looking forward to this daily practice. The more you discover, the more you want to uncover. (Granted, some books of the Bible are richer than others regarding this. But give yourself grace. Nobody said you can’t read the Book of Psalms over and over again for a while.)

Over time, you may even notice—as I did—that your prayers are growing more personal. 

It makes sense, doesn’t it? The more we know who God is—during times of uncertainty and turmoil as well as more mundane seasons—the more natural it becomes to use His many names as we communicate with Him. 

This further strengthens our relationship with Him, which is exactly what we hope and long for when we’re trying to embrace the unexpected.

Lord Jesus, we know you are with us, even when we feel you are distant. You are a compassionate and gracious God, our help and our deliverer, our portion in the land of the living. Lord, you are the One who examines minds and hearts. You are Creator, Redeemer, Savior. You are abundant in faithful love, you hear our prayers, and you have promised that you will never leave us nor forsake us. We love you because you first loved us. We trust you to carry us through the unexpected, in your way and in your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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What help you to stay close to God in the midst of the unexpected?

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