In November 2018, my wife and I visited Emmanuel Medical Center in Entebbe. Friends of ours had just welcomed their first born and as we made our way up to the room where the mother and baby were, I noticed that the Medical Center was very likely an ordinary house just a few years prior.
I imagine the owner of the house had a family in it. The children likely played soccer on that pretty lawn, using slippers and sticks as goal posts. The parents probably threw birthday parties, held a graduation party, hosted a kwanjula and celebrated Christmas and Easter with the extended family in that home. Many people likely had fond memories of laughing so hard at uncle’s ridiculous jokes, they needed to hunch over and hold their bellies as he recounted stories from his school days. The house likely did amazing things for that family. It likely held many special memories. Many precious memories. Someone else though looked at the same building but didn’t see a house – they saw a hospital. When the building changed hands, what was once a house for one family now became a vessel through which lives were being saved and babies were being brought safely into this world. A change of hands brought a much grander purpose to the house.
In your hands, you have a precious life. You can do a lot with it – entertain guests, raise children, study hard, get accolades. All valuable stuff. In God’s hands, He sees a lot more. He’d love to do amazing things with your life if you’ll let Him. He’d like to save lives.
As a parent, maybe your children don’t act the way you want them to. Maybe there are habits you might not be happy about. Or maybe in your case, you are looking for a spouse. Or maybe business isn’t going the way you envisioned starting out. Maybe in your case, work is tough and your supervisor seems to be out to get you. Maybe your husband doesn’t quite love you like Christ loves the church. Or your wife has no idea what Proverbs 31 is. What is it that you’ve tried to handle your way and it isn’t going according to plan?
Well, the good thing is, God has something to say about this. He says come to me all who Labour and are heavy laden and I’ll give you rest. He gives you rest by carrying the load. He takes the load off your shoulder. That battle becomes His. The load shifts into the hands of the Lord. Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
What do you need to turn over into the Lord’s hands today? If a man could take a home and turn it into a hospital through which new life comes into this earth, how much more can God do with whatever it is you have in your hands? Is it your finances? Is it your marriage? Is it a relationship with parents? Is it a relationship with a loved one? Put it in God’s hands. Invite Him in, seek His guidance and listen as He guides you.
What would the world look like if ordinary houses everywhere were turned into sources of life? If we opened our homes and our Hearts to the Lord to do His thing His way. What would happen if our marriages were turned over to God? How different would this world be if our finances were turned over to the one who doesn’t know lack?
What can you hand over to God this week? Spend time with Him and seek His wisdom on what you need to handover into His hands. He’ll guide you. His hands are big enough.