What do God and Almond Joy have to do with one another?

Yesterday was my monthly retreat day. For the majority of the past year, I’ve been taking the first Friday to get away with my Bible, a notepad, and seek God’s voice. Some of these days have been particularly fruitful, while others have left me with more questions than answers. However, I wouldn’t trade this time for anything and highly recommend it to others.

This month’s retreat was a bit of a challenge. Our Truth@Work ministry saw growth to nearly 30 members in the first 6-8 months, but we’ve hit a plateau in the last 6-8 months. I’ve tried multiple approaches, but the ministry isn’t growing, leading to heartfelt conversations with God about why. While I don’t subscribe to prosperity theology, I do believe that if Jesus is at work in a ministry, it will grow. Sometimes, it feels like there’s a spiritual hindrance that needs addressing.

So, that was my agenda for the day. As I arrived at my favorite spot, got settled in, and opened my Bible, I was filled with anticipation that God would reveal something new. After a couple of hours, nothing was coming, and I started feeling anxious. Then, in a matter of minutes, the sky went from bright sunshine to a downpour. My Bible, notepad, and I were completely drenched. As I headed back to the car, I found myself saying, “Really, God? A spiritual retreat day with forecasted sun, and you bring rain out of nowhere?” While I know there’s a lesson in every situation, I wasn’t too happy at that moment.

As I drove around, the sky cleared. I stood outside my car, attempting to dry my Bible and notepad on the hood. I turned to Jeremiah 12, where Jeremiah complains to God. In verses 5-6, God essentially says, “If you think this is bad, how will you cope when it gets really tough?” Okay, point taken, God—thanks for the loving rebuke.

Then, my Bible pages flipped to John 2, where Jesus clears the Temple. The words seemed to fly off the page: “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16b NIV). I knew there was a message here, but what? Was He saying that Truth@Work was turning His house into a market? That didn’t quite fit. Then, it struck me—maybe He’s talking about me. Have I lost focus on our ministry’s core mission of transformation? Tough stuff to consider!

Throughout the rest of the day, I kept encountering familiar verses about trusting in the Lord and being patient. As the day wound down, I found myself in Philippians 4. Let me share this passage:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. … I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:4-13 NIV, with omissions)

As I prayed these words back to God, I focused on rejoicing, patience, thanksgiving, peace, and contentment—familiar themes. Then, the wind blew the pages to 1 Corinthians 16:13-14: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” This verse is the cornerstone of the Act Like Men conference coming to Indianapolis on November 8th and 9th, which we’re encouraging men to attend. It was another reminder to toughen up—“If you think this is bad, how will you cope when it gets really tough?”

Now, you might be wondering, where does the “God and Almond Joy” part come in? Well, as I finished my time with another prayer, I asked God to bring me joy, wanting to experience the joy Paul speaks of in all circumstances. As I packed up, I noticed a candy wrapper that had been there all day. When I picked it up, it was an Almond Joy wrapper. I couldn’t help but laugh—God has the greatest sense of humor sometimes!

One response to “What do God and Almond Joy have to do with one another?”

1. Sloane Thompson says:

   10/17/2013 at 2:13 pm

   Thank you very much for this blog post. I found some much needed encouragement and conviction in the scriptures you included here, particularly the passage from Philippians.

   Reply