Disappointing Doughnuts - Encouragement Café - November 12

Disappointing Doughnuts
 By Dawn Mast

For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) 

There’s a great little coffee and pastry shop I drive by when I take our kids to school. Actually, I avoid actually driving by the coffee shop because I know I’ll be tempted to get a treat and there’s usually not extra time in the mad rush of our mornings. However, I know this place well enough to know they have fresh doughnuts in a variety of flavors on Friday mornings.

Recently, when the kids went back to school it was a chilly morning and I’d been longing for a hot coffee and doughnut combo from this shop. It had been months of me talking myself out of eating a doughnut and finally the morning had come when I realized I had a few extra minutes, cash in my wallet and it was doughnut Friday. Time to partake!

I went to the drive-thru, ordered coffee and was doubly delighted to hear they had chocolate cake glazed doughnuts freshly made. This was better than expected! 

As I drove home and sipped my coffee I couldn’t be patient any longer. I reached into the bag and peeled back the waxed paper for a long awaited bite of the warm chocolate cake glazed doughnut. 

And it was blueberry.  

It shouldn’t have been a big deal. A doughnut is a doughnut, right? But sometimes you have your heart set on something and to have it change just messes with you. 

The Israelites were definitely not consistent people. They wanted to be out of Egypt, then back in again. Keeping God’s commands was a struggle and they changed their minds about following what God wanted for them.

But God never changed His mind or lost sight of them. Ever. They must have frustrated Him and caused Him sadness, but He never gave up or changed His mind about guiding and loving them.

It may seem simple, but when everything around us appears to be changing faster than we can keep up with, God will not change. He stands by His Word and will do what He promises. We may have disappointments, sickness, bad days and heartache in this world, but He promised to be with us when we go through those times. 

Be encouraged today that whether you face small or large disappointments the Lord sees you and is with you. Things around you may shift and change, but the God Who knows and loves you will never change. 

Change can be unsettling. If you are fearing some readjustments in your life picture them in detail (a move, a family reconfiguration, a job adjustment...). Then imagine each detail in the palm of God’s hand. He can and will hold each component and deal with it in a way that will help you release your fear of the change you are facing. Try it. Ask God for His peace and for the ability to see Him in the situation you’re facing. He is always faithful! 

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for never changing! I can count on You to be steady in this ever changing world and I lean into You for security. Help me to have peace when things around me are shifting and seem so unsettled. Even when something little changes, help me to press into the hope and promise that You see everything in my life, You love me through and through and Your promises never change. Amen! 

For more encouragement, visit Dawn at  thatdawnedonme.wordpress.com

©2019 Dawn Mast.  All rights reserved.

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