October promised to be full of opportunities, starting with my first women’s retreat with the ladies from my new church and our sister church. But something happened last Monday in the middle of writing a blog post continuing on how God makes all things possible.

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke‬ ‭1:37‬ ‭ESV

I let the dogs out in the backyard to go potty, but instead of getting down to business, they decided it was time to frolic and wrestle. Ugh! Didn’t they know I was in the middle of important stuff! I was impatient and tried commanding them to go potty, but they are still puppies and Finn is hard of hearing, so I chased them from one end of the yard to the other until I tripped on a flagstone and face-planted, pinning my arm under me. I propped myself up on my elbow taking stock of my situation, I lay on the wet stone in my robe and pjs, one slipper laying six inches away from my feet, my hand looking flat as a pancake, and my wrist curved funny. My husband had gone to get groceries and I wasn’t sure I could get myself off the ground. I laid there and sobbed.

Come to find out I had broken bones on both sides of my wrist. Not great news. I had a ton of writing planned. I was supposed to go to retreat in four days. My whole plan for October was threatened.

I decided not to jump to conclusions, but to let things unfold. I informed my friends and family, asking for prayer. My friend, who I would be carpooling and rooming with at retreat, graciously offered to help me with anything I couldn’t do myself, giving me confidence that I could still attend.

And attend I did. The weekend was not without its challenges, but I learned to humbly accept the help I was offered. I learned that it is more my own thinking that blocks me than any physical limitations, and my own stubbornness that puts me in harms way.

Now, I’m back from retreat and as I lay in bed this morning thinking about everything else on my calendar, my thoughts automatically go to – I just need to survive through October. The Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts, Why only survive when you can thrive? Yes! Why do I always think about what I can’t do? Haven’t I just been writing about my possibility making God? I’m going to make every effort to look to see what God makes possible when my own thoughts tell me I can’t do something.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I encourage you to walk this road, too. Whatever looks like a roadblock, look for the detour God has provided. You may find the adventure he has for you to be the better route.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy