32 - The Holy Spirit says: "You can't win the race if you don't stay in the race!"

Our bankruptcy had an effective date of January 30, 1998. “It’s one of those things”, as my Dad use to say, and it’s memory remains vivid. It was not long after the bankruptcy, later in 1998, and I was on my way to Rutland, Vermont, to further prepare for the ongoing litigation and depositions that were underway with respect to the Vermont Electric Division of Citizens Utilities Company. In the face of the bankruptcy and the hardships created by the loss of income, not to mention the stress of the ordeal, I was pretty discouraged. My mind was a torrent of mixed emotions as I wondered how I was going to deal with these issues.

In the midst of that torrent of thought, it happened that as I traveled

by a church on the outskirts of Essex Junction, Vermont, my attention was drawn to the church sign located adjacent to the road. The sign said simply: “You can’t win the race if you don’t stay in the race”. It struck straight into my heart as I considered the significance of that statement; not only because of the truth it represented but also that encountering it at that moment in time came across to me as more of God’s providence than a simple coincidence. Choices matter and, with those thoughts in my mind, I strengthened my resolve, laid aside the emotions and concerns that were in my mind, and determined to continue moving forward with respect to prosecuting the case. It was a defining moment and, moreover, this event and this sign were to play another role, one even more of a demonstration of God’s providence, two years later. You can read about it in the story “34 – God honor’s his precepts!”.

Moving on, it was in the year 2000, that the litigation before the Vermont Public Service Board was drawing to a close and a ruling was expected. It was at that time that Pat and I encountered another trying experience described in the next story “33 – God intervenes: the doctors said Nathaniel would not live through the night!”

Notes

What is there to be learned from this experience?

It is my belief that the Holy Spirit was moving in the background with respect to this experience. That belief is significantly reinforced when considered in the light of the story “34 – God honor’s his precepts!”. But what exactly does this experience convey?

It conveys the knowledge that God is aware of our thoughts, concerns, emotions, and stress. It conveys the knowledge that God is aware that at times, we are in need of help and that he is willing to intervene and provide that help. It conveys the knowledge that God is able to influence and move people to accomplish his goals, plans, and decisions. It conveys the knowledge that God is able to communicate through the written word in our day and time a message he wishes to convey. And it conveys the knowledge that God is aware of the need for coordination and timing; that is, He was aware of and arranged through the Holy Spirit for that sign to convey the message at the exact time that I would be passing by and in need of encouragement.

The scripture is full of stories in which God, controlling events and circumstances, intervened in the lives of both individuals and nations to bring about a result. This website contains its share of such instances in which God, controlling events and circumstances, intervened in my life. Below, are some of the scriptures representing some examples found in scripture. As you read them, ask yourself the following questions:

The story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt; placed in a jailcell with the Egyptian king baker and winetaster with connections to the king; called before the king; elevated to the highest position in the land other than the king himself, and subsequently in a position to welcome his family into Egypt during a time of need?
The story of Mordecai and Esther found in the book of Esther: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that Esther was chosen to be King Ahaserus’s Queen; a position that led to the salvation of the Jews from the Haman who intended to destroy the Jews throughout the land?
The story of Rebekah being chosen to be the wife of Abraham’s son, Isaac found in Genesis: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that led Rebekah to agree to allow Abraham’s servant to drink from from the jar of water and then volunteer to draw water for his camels also?
The story of Gideon and the fleece found in Judges: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that there was dew on the fleece but dry all around it one day and dry on the fleece but wet on the ground the next day?
The story of Jonah and the whale found in the Book of Jonah; chapter: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that when the crew aboard the ship cast lots to determine who was responsible for the calamity (the storm) that the lot fell upon Jonah?
The story of Jesus and the coin found in the mouth of the fish described in Matthew: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that in the mouth of the first fish caught was a coin?
The story of Phillip and the Ethiopian found in Acts: Was it God controlling the circumstances or was it happenstance, fate, coincidence, or chance that the Ethiopian met up with Phillip as the Ethiopian was trying to understand the scripture in Isaiah 53:7-8?

Some scriptural references

The story of Joseph: Genesis; chapter 37 & 39.
The story of Mordecai and Esther found in the book of Esther; chapter 2 through chapter 8.
The story of Rebekah: Genesis 24:12-24.
The story of Gideon: Judges 6:36-40.
The story of Jonah: Jonah 1:1-13.
The story of the coin in the fish’s mouth: Matthew 17:24-27.
The story of Phillip and the Ethiopian: Acts 8:26-35.