Hindsight Soup

By: Debbie Christopher ~~I had two separate thoughts started in my Blog Brainstorm folder of the Notes App. As I began working on them, I noticed that the basic theme of both was the same. Since I had pre-titled them as ‘Hindsight’ and ‘Stir the Soup’—an idea I stole from our Pastor—, I decided to combine them and go with ‘Hindsight Soup’. I trust you are nourished by this ‘recipe’ as Thanksgiving approaches, and the Fall soup season winds down.

The hindsight idea came when a new friend asked me a question on the same day I heard the quote shared in my last post, thus it really caught my attention. This new friend wasn’t around when my husband and I experienced our head-scratching financial and career-change life detour, but she was familiar with bits and pieces of our story. She asked me to share some of our stories of God’s goodness. As our conversation came to an end, she made the most interesting statement. She stated, “Wow! That must have been a fun experience to watch God work!” To be honest, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but replied (thinking about THAT quote), “No, it wasn’t really fun going through it—-BUT, it was, and is, exciting to review it in hindsight!” I then explained my love for that word.

Hindsight: Recognition of the realities, possibilities, or requirements of a situation, event, or requirement, etc, after its occurrence. (Dictionary.com)

Looking back and recognizing the details of God’s leading, direction, provision—and all we learned during that three year journey—is indeed fun and exciting!

So, where does the Stir the Soup idea fit in? It is based on 2 Peter 3:1 ff as Peter warned the early believers to be mindful of all they had previously heard, learned, and yes, experienced. Here is the example I stole from our dear Pastor* —from whom I’ve stolen many illustrations…

Every once in a while, we need to stir the soup and bring God’s blessings and promises back to the top—bring the hindsight details to the forefront…. and remember.

I challenge you to recall a tough circumstance you’ve fought through in the past and review the details as to how God worked it all out…stir the soup…and enjoy a bowl of Hindsight Soup.

Keep stirring

~Debbie

*Phil Housley, Pastor Park Crest Baptist Church

Oh, and that quote I wrote about a couple of weeks ago…

“God has already made a way, now He’s making you!”