They Drew Straws

The Disciples were in the upper room waiting on the promise from Jesus. They didn't know exactly what they were waiting for, so they prayed, thought, and tried to plan for the future. One of the things that was at the forefront of their minds was replacing Judas. They experienced the company of the 12 and wanted to keep it to the number Jesus had chosen. Two men were nominated, Justus and Matthias.

And they prayed for God's direction.

Then they drew straws!

I find that fascinating and powerful. They prayed that the right one would be chosen and as they drew the straws they knew that the one with the shortest straw was the one. It wasn't chance, it wasn't luck. It was God.

And that was the end of it, no arguments, no complaints, no "do overs" or best out of 3. It was God's decision and that was it.

Wouldn't it be great to discover God's will that simply?

Maybe it is that simple, we just too often make it way too complicated, we doubt too much, the answer can't be God's answer. But just maybe God's will is just that easy to find. We just can't seem to see it.

A woman came to my office one day and offered a story. Many months before they had discovered that all of their attempts to have a child had failed. The doctors had basically given up, saying that adoption was an option, but they would probably never had a child of their own. With all hope gone they went driving and prayed that God might show them what to do, that maybe they needed to try one more time and that God would show them if it was right.

Then they passed by my church.

On the marquee we had posted the phrase, "This is the sign you've been waiting for." They stopped, took a picture of it and went home. It was about ten months later when she would tell me this story and showed me the picture they took that day...


...and their newborn baby!


Does God honor our requests for answers? Absolutely, if we only keep our eyes opened to the signs God is putting before us every day. Short straws and church marquees count. We just have to trust in the result...

...that it's from God.

Peace ><>
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