Saturday, September 14th, 2019, was the final day of the Experience Conference in Lakeland, Florida. It was a beautiful, sunny, gorgeous day outside. I was scheduled to teach a breakout session called “OVERCOMING EVERY OBSTACLE IN YOUR LIFE TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.”
I pulled up to the majestic Victory Church in Lakeland, Florida, and parked my red truck on the grass about 100 yards from the main glass door entrance. My outfit for the day was a cute sleeveless jumpsuit and sleeveless denim vest (yes, this part of the story is important! 😂)
I grabbed my heavy box filled with handouts and supplies for my worship, and started the 100 yard walk on the rough gravel path toward the entrance. Then….suddenly….without warning…….I tripped, twisted, flipped, and flew (yeah I didn’t just stumble and fall- I went ALL OUT! Like, “go big or go home” style 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂). My heavy box went flying. I went flying. I felt my arms and knees and foot (I only have one, but that’s another story!) scrape against the rough gravel as I slid for a couple feet. Once I came to a complete stop, I jumped up, immediately looking around to see if anyone witnessed my elaborate act of grace. Not seeing anyone around, I breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed my box, and began to march resolutely toward the entrance!
When I got to the glass doors. Two sweet ladies opened the doors and immediately told me they saw me fall 🙄 and asked if I was okay. I said, “Oh, I was really hoping nobody saw that (😬🤣).”
One of them said, “I watched you fall! Your body twisted. You landed hard. You are really going to be hurting tomorrow. I KNOW you injured something.”
I know she meant well, but in that moment, Something rose up inside of me, and I looked into her eyes and proclaimed, “I reject and rebuke that in Jesus name!!!!!”
As I entered the church, I realized that I was not in any pain. And there was not a single scratch on my arms, knees, or foot! Nothing!!! No blood. No scrapes. Not even a mark in the places I felt myself sliding in gravel!
God’s Word says though a righteous man fall down seven times, he will GET UP EVERY TIME (Pro 24:16).
Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. “
What are you going through today? Do you feel like you’re down for the count? Are your circumstances painful, like sliding through loose gravel? Are people telling you they “saw you fall?” Are they saying, “oh man! That’s really gonna do some damage!”
Guess what? Your situation has not caught the Lord off-guard! That circumstance that others perceive to be your disaster has not only NOT taken God by surprise….it is PART OF HIS DIVINE PLAN!!!
It’s just some loose gravel….. Get up!!!!! (Proverbs 24:16)
It’s just some loose gravel….. Keep going!!!!!! (Galatians 6:9)
It’s just some loose gravel……. Press on!!!!!!! (Philippians 3:14)
It’s just some loose gravel……. Do NOT LOSE HEART!!! (2 Cor 4:16-18)
It’s just some loose gravel……. It isn’t over until GOD says its over and HE HAS A REALLY GOOD PLAN FOR IT ALL!!!!! (Jeremiah 29:11)
There is purpose for your pain! There’s a testimony in your test! (Romans 8:28)
Don’t fail the test! (James 1)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight!” Proverbs 3:5-6
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️