Rochelle waved her farewells to some of the other folks from church as she unlocked her car door and climbed in.  It was a good sermon today; very timely.  A message about God’s infinite love, power, wisdom and faithfulness, and how his children can and should trust him completely. 

But anxiety still roiled her stomach and tormented her mind.  “I want to trust you, Lord, but the uncertainties in my life are so many and my problems so large,” she whispered.

Her health had unexpectedly declined in the past few months, and her illness threatened her job, her finances, and her family’s well-being – not to mention potentially her very life.  To say that her circumstances dominated her thoughts would be an understatement.  They were an ever-present shadow in her days and nights.

At her insistence, her husband had taken the kids camping that weekend for one more hurrah before school began.  She didn’t have the energy to go along.  The truth was she actually craved a bit of peace and quiet before the next medical appointment and whatever news that would bring.

Rochelle said it again … tears brimming in her eyes.  “I want to trust you, Lord.  Help me!  Help me trust!  Give me peace!  Reassure my troubled heart!”

She sat there a moment in earnest prayer.  Finally, she sighed deeply and prepared to leave.  Realizing that she’d be heading into the blinding morning sun, she lifted her hand and flipped down her visor.  Something toppled onto her lap.  She retrieved it and was shocked to find it was a gold-colored flash drive.  Even more shocking was the silver label on the drive that read, “Your Transcendent God.”

What was this?  Her first thought was that someone from church had left it for her.  But no, the car had been locked.  She looked around anyway; no one was paying her any attention. 

Her second thought was that it had been left there by her husband.  But that couldn’t be either.  She had lowered that visor just yesterday … after the family had departed for the campground.  There had been nothing there.

“Who put this here?” she wondered.  And immediately, the initial question presented itself again: “What is this?”  She rolled it over in her fingers, trying to make sense of it.  No obvious answers came, so she tucked the drive in a pocket of her purse and drove home.

Even as she changed into more leisurely clothes, her mind never strayed from the flash drive.  So many questions!  The most significant one being … should she open it?  Was it safe?  What would she find there if she did?

After much internal debate and a number of fervent prayers, she sat down at her computer and turned it on.  Despite her concerns, her curiosity compelled her.  With another prayer, she popped the drive into the proper port and held her breath.  “USB Drive (Divine:)” showed up on her screen.  Rochelle inhaled in shock; she had never seen a USB designation like that before.

Slowly … so slowly … she moved the cursor over the name, paused, and then clicked.  There was only one file listed.  It was named, “A Special Message for Rochelle.”  She sucked in another astonished breath and dropped back against her chair-back, staring.

It took a moment before she could move.  But when she did, it was numbly and seemingly without thought; her hand reached for the mouse and she opened the file.

Her screen was filled with a lovely ladybug.  Rochelle initially thought it was a picture, but as she watched, the ladybug extended its wings.  They fluttered and then returned to their place.  Not a picture then, but a video!

The ladybug faded from view and the black sky with thousands of stars took its place.  Golden letters appeared one-by-one from left to right to spell, “Your Transcendent God.”

The words faded from view and the stars took on a crisper focus.  Then gradually what appeared like multi-colored lasers began to crisscross the screen, bursting every which way.  Rochelle intuitively understood that this was energy being dispersed, every particle having its own light display.  The beams continued to increase in number until the entire screen was a writhing spiderweb of color. 

The view was beautiful but bewildering.  Rochelle found herself dizzy and nauseous.  She was about to look away when the beams disappeared, and a new message took form.  “The cosmos: too much for you, but not for God.”

Next, the world took shape as it was viewed from space.  The features became defined; continents and oceans.  Then the flashing beams began to appear again, flying every which way and gradually increasing in number – each an indicator of energy and a display of activity.  When it reached the point of unbearability, it disappeared and these words emerged: “The world: too much for you, but not for God.”

This same scenario was repeated with the nation, her state, and her city.  Each time, the statement “Too much for you, but not for God” marked the end of one view and the beginning of another. 

Rochelle was mesmerized at what she had witnessed.  However, she was truly overwhelmed when an aerial view of her house showed up, the same process occurred, and she was informed yet again, “Too much for you, but not for God.”

The overhead view of her house and yard was presented once more.  This time though it zoomed slowly in on the decorative wooden cross they displayed in their front yard.  The energy shots gradually resumed, but different this time in that Rochelle could see the sources of the beams.  Winged maple spinners dropping from the nearby tree and bouncing off the crossbeam.  Various insects climbing up and down the center post.  Sparrows landing and then taking flight again.  She was amazed at how much activity took place just on the cross alone. 

That’s when the rain began – each droplet a blue laser which erupted into multiple lights when striking the wood.  The rain increased in intensity, and soon the cross was ablaze in blue.  This time the message read, “The cross: too much for you, but not for God.”

The video continued with the cross visible again.  The focus drew closer until it centered on the point where the arms extended from the beam.  There was the ladybug again!  The rain pelted all around it, but it seemed to be untouched.  As was the wood upon which it was resting!

A new proclamation: “Keeping a ladybug dry in a downpour: too much for you, but not for God.”

Then a new and longer message scrolled unto the screen, each line displayed below the previous. 

“I know all.”

“I control all.”

“I love you.”

“I will take care of you.”

“I will take care of everything.”

“I always do!”

“Your Transcendent God.”

The video froze there.  A thunder-burst pulled her attention from the screen.  It was actually raining!

Rochelle couldn’t help herself; she ran to the closet and grabbed her raincoat.  Bursting out the front door and dashing toward the cross, she realized that the rain was letting up.  She slowed as she approached the cross, reluctant at what she might find.  Or not find.

She eased closer.  The back of the cross was completely soaked.  She stepped around to the front and drew closer.  There in the center of the cross sat the ladybug!  Rochelle gasped, then took another step nearer.  Though the front of the cross was also drenched, immediately around the ladybug was a small dry spot, and the dry area was shaped like a heart!  The lovely ladybug extended its wings.  They fluttered and then returned to their place.

Rochelle began to sob uncontrollably.  Her God who died for her knew her and what she was going through, and he loved her and promised to take care of everything.  He truly was a Transcendent God!  He was a God worthy of her trust.

When Rochelle returned to her computer, the flash drive was gone.  But not her hope and joy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our Transcendent God

All-Powerful

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?”  (Jeremiah 32:27)

Jesus said, “… With God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

All-Knowing

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him …(Hebrews 4:13)

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  (Psalm 139:1-4)

Full of Love for Us

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  (Jeremiah 31:3)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1)

Faithful

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.  (Psalm 89:8)

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Worthy of Trust

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  (Psalm 18:2)

Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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.  (Philippians 4:6-7)