“And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands?’” Mark 6:2 ESV

He Stuns Me

I sent a devotional off this morning to be posted, and part of the note I sent with it said, “I was looking thru my devo folder this morning and came across this almost completely finished from Dec 2018! God knew it was a reminder I would need 2+ years later…He stuns me.” My friend, and the editor of the LCC Walk His Way devotionals, wrote back, “God stuns me, too. I love all that the word stun encompasses. It’s perfect.”

One of the definitions for stun I found was to overcome, especially with paralyzing astonishment or disbelief. Similar words are astound, amaze, astonish, take someone’s breath away. This last one really resonated with me. It literally took my breath away to read the devotional I had started in 2018 and how it met me exactly where I was on the day I rediscovered it. It was a warning, an admonition from Him to be on the lookout, to be careful and ready…to continue to pray and press in. It was a day when I wondered what I was supposed to do about a situation, the day after the start of victory in many areas, but was getting different stories from different people and trying to navigate personal and professional responsibilities and was confused and starting to despair.

As I look at the word disbelief in the definition, I don’t see it as not believing in God—I see it as not comprehending His grace and mercy. They truly stun me. I have been through a very dry year (which I know many of you can relate to), one in which I struggled to hear the Lord, but I know the reason for the struggle was running, hiding, and distracting myself from hearing what He wanted to tell me.

I am stunned, astonished and in disbelief of the fact that once I opened my heart back up to Him there was no condemnation; He poured out love, prophecy, wisdom and discernment, He made a way in so many difficult situations, and opened the door for at least a glimmer of hope for salvation of a family member(s).

The situations I find myself are not in and of themselves good—they are tragic—but the openness of my heart and the work I see God doing in the midst of these situations is stunning. I am seeing mighty works being done by His hand and as the scripture says, I too am astonished.

Father God, I pray as we navigate situations this year, that we would search for and cry out to You. I pray You would reveal Yourself in wisdom and mighty works. I pray You would stun us with the depth of Your love for us. Amen.