God, can you provide a hair tie?

It can be tempting to settle for “whatever” rather than waiting for God’s best. Karen Hearn shares her version of this lesson. 

Elisa

God, can you provide a hair tie?   

By Karen Hearn

A few years ago, I was recovering from three abdominal surgeries. I was struggling with so many subsequent challenges, both physically and mentally, and decided that I needed to get outside and start walking. It became a form of therapy for me. It was a chance to connect with my Creator, while at the same time, strengthening my heart, mind and body.

There was one day in particular, which deeply impacted and changed me. Please walk with me for a moment.

It was a super-hot day in Colorado and I had been trying to walk about five miles per day. I set out on my journey, with my water bottle in hand, sunscreen on and my watch set to track my workout. As I was walking, I quickly realized that I had forgotten a hair tie to pull my hair back. BUMMER. It was SO hot, and my neck was already sweating. I uttered a quick prayer to God, saying, “It would be amazing if I could find a hair tie on the path, or actually anything at all to pull my hair back. Feel free to do that for me God, if you’re currently not too busy.”  

I continued walking and after a few more miles, I spotted something in the path. You guessed it - It was a hair tie! But it was yucky. It was old and grungy and there was no way I’d put that thing in my hair. Ugh. Was  I being a “hair-tie elitist”? I kind of giggled to myself as I looked up and chuckled a bit with Jesus as I passed it by. I hoped he would understand, but had I selfishly passed up the gift of what he had offered me, after specifically asking for it? I was feeling some shame, as I walked past it on the trail.

Then the most amazing thing happened.  

Suddenly, there was a fresh breeze – a literal COLD breeze that started blowing on me. It was a rush of cold air, in the heat of the day! Impossible! The cool breeze surrounded me, and I stopped, looked up to the sky and lifted my hair. The air hit my sweaty neck like jumping into refreshing water on a hot day. I paused to take it all in and then I heard Jesus whisper to me, “Don’t settle for less. What I have for you is better. What I have for you is My best. Just wait, dear one.”

Whaaaat? This applied to so many pertinent areas of my life, and I continued in conversation with him about it for the next several miles. He had better for me. And settling for less was not an option. I could have reached down and pulled my hair back with that yucky hair tie and walked on. But thankfully, I didn’t. I would have missed his refreshing, perfect, cool breeze. THAT was what I needed. NOT what I had asked him for!

How about you? Have you asked for something from God that you haven’t received? Or maybe you received it, but it wasn’t really what you were hoping for. He gives us what we need, and it is ALWAYS his best, even when we might not recognize it or we might have to wait a bit for it. My hope is that this would encourage you in the same way that it inspired me on that hot, sweaty day.

That’s just how Jesus speaks to me sometimes – through a dirty, grungy hair tie, lying on the ground.  

Karen loves writing and is a creative thinker who enjoys exploring ideas that inspire, challenge and connect people. She believes that it is vital to learn from one another’s stories, and she seeks to authentically share her own life in a way that she hopes will lead others closer to Christ. Karen was a high school music teacher for fifteen years and then ventured out to become a flight attendant with a major airline, which currently keeps her in the skies most of the time. She values family, meaningful conversation, lifelong learning, laughter and a good cup of coffee. Hear more of Karen’s stories on her podcast, “Extraordinary Moments From an Ordinary Life.”