The Answer is in the Word...Every Time

Throughout my four years of college, I have never once lost my I.D. card.

Until Tuesday, May 10, 2011. I was in the chapel during an all campus worship session when one moment it was in my pocket, and the next it was gone. I didn't remember putting it in my bag, but I looked there anyway. I found everything but my I.D. card. I decided to not think about it because, after all, the card had my name on it, so whoever found it didn't have to think hard about who it belonged to. I was sure that it would be found and returned.

But, as the next day came and went, my I.D. card was still nowhere to be found and, to my surprise, no one had turned it in. I decided that I would go to campus safety and get a temporary one the next day so that I could get into meals in the dining commons.

As I went to bed that night, I pulled my Bible to me from the window sill. I've gotten into the routine of reading Psalms/some Scripture before I go to sleep. As I opened my Bible, none other than my I.D. card came tumbling out. I was so grateful, but also surprised. I didn't remember putting it into my bag, where my Bible also was, so my first thought was, 'How did you get in there?" I put my I.D. card on my desk, read some Scripture, and went to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, the night's event of finding my I.D. card was on my mind. I was thinking about how I was looking to people to have my I.D. card when it was in my Bible the whole time. I am one of those people who is constantly looking to other people for the answers to the problems in my life when really, they don't the answers. If I would look to Scripture and to the One who is the Living Word, finding the answer would be no problem. I would also find my identity there, instead of looking to the world to show it to me.

Hmm...some interesting parallels there, huh? I have a card on my desk that a friend gave to me. It's one of those little reminder note card things with a quote that she wrote on it. The quote is from Life's Ultimate Privilege by DeVern Fromke. It says, "You'll be upset if you look at people too much. If you look around, you will be distracted. If you look within yourself, you'll be discouraged. Only as you keep looking to Jesus will you develop confidence and peace." I love this quote. It is very challenging, but so very true.

The next time I 'lose something' and need an answer, I hope that I remember this and go to the Word first. He is faithful to provide an answer every time, despite the situation.