Thursday, February 12, 2009

God's Box of Chocolates

Previously published in February 2007 

Everywhere I look near Valentine’s Day, there’s chocolate: boxes of chocolate in all the stores, chocolate on TV promising to be the only love you need, chocolate girl scout cookies—CHOCOLATE! I even saw chocolate Altoid breath mints in the grocery checkout aisle the other day! I think that’s what led me to remember the famous quote from Forrest Gump: “Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.” (I even remembered it with his accent.)

In reality, that phrase can be true. We wake up every morning completely unsure of what the day may hold for us. We’ve made our plans. Sometimes they even happen the way we make them. But we never know for sure, do we? The days that come with caramel in the middle are my favorite…the ones with the strawberry goo are just so so…but the ones with coconut—YUCK! I’d rather go back to bed. Then there’s the days where tragedy or difficult times come out of nowhere, and the chocolate sits in the pantry untouched—there’s no sweetness to be had in those moments, it seems.

God knows that life as it pertains to circumstances is uncertain for us. That’s why He comforts us and reminds us so many times that He is our constant companion, our steadfast friend, our consistently loving God and Savior. He doesn’t keep promises the way we do…

“When people make promises, 
they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them
so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, 
the authority will back them up. 
When God wanted to guarantee His promises, 
He gave His word, a rock-solid guarantee—
God can't break His word. 
And because His Word cannot change, 
the promise is likewise unchangeable.” 
(Heb. 6:16-18, the Message) 

You see, no matter what chocolate we are “in the middle of” right now, He is there…with the certainty of His promise today as well as His hope of Heaven in the future. Listen to how the verse above continues to encourage us: (vs.19-20)
“We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason 
to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. 
It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, 
reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God 
where Jesus, running on ahead of us, 
has taken up His permanent post as high priest for us...”

I love the visual picture of grabbing on to Him with both hands as He runs ahead of me to the Father. That makes me able to get up today and praise Him for whatever comes my way. This faith, this confidence, this hope is our unbreakable spiritual lifeline--HIS love for us no matter what, when, how or why. Let’s binge on His priceless box of chocolates today…the sweetest and most satisfying of them all.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
Psalm 34:8, NIV

Ok, coconut lovers, I'm prepared for the comments...lol...you too caramel haters. :D Just make sure the message doesn't melt in the process... ;)

In the Key of HE,

17 friends shared a comment:

teenieweenie said...

Hey Girl!
I like the chocolates that come with the map. I hate cream filled. But I guess in life there isn't a map and that is the place for our faith. God will provide and lead the way.
I found your blog from Amy Lou. Take Care!

Laurie Ann said...

Wonderful devo, and the chocolates look divine. Call me weird but I haven't found a flavor that weirds me out yet. Something about Valentine's chocolate...

lori said...

Hey that was a FAB*U*LOUS devo...really and you know I KNEW I liked you...I'd rather go back to bed than get a coconut too...but EVEN WORSE...jelly!! UGH!!

That was great...I'm a purist when it comes to the chocolate, but when you can put the message in chocolate terms..you got me listening!

love ya!
lori

Denise said...

Great post sweetie, I do not like the chocolates with cream in the middle.

Beth in NC said...

Great devotional -- and I like chocolate ANYTHING. It truly is a weakness. :o)

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

I'm sorry you said Chocolate and I kind of missed the point! I'm just kidding my friend. That was a beautiful post. I always love it when someone can associate the word of God with chocolate. You put the two perfectly together.
BIG COCONUT size hugs to you! I like both coconut and caramel.
Mwah!

Runner Mom said...

Oohh!This was awesome! Belive it or not, I do not like chocolate! I know...I've heard this all my life! It's yucky! But give me white chocolate, and I'm loving every bite!

This analogy was great! Thanks so much! And, the scripture reference from The Message was really powerful!

Hugs,
Susan

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

Actually, the Chocolate Altoid breath mints are ICK! Sometimes I feel like a nut – Almond Joy! OH! YEAH! . . but then my hubby turned me onto Resess’ PB Cups and I went nuts – started making my own [you know with dipping chocolate-melted chocolate-pb mixed w/ powdered sugar...] = SiNFuL! Then I read that DARK chocolate is good for one’s heart and I’m over 40, so I changed all my habits and now eat the Dark stuff! = BLISS
BUT Wait! I missed the point too. I AM a nut.
AWEsome correlation here!
A devotion fit for a chocoholic.
Life with Jesus is Bliss!
Happy Day!
~esthermay
I must go find some Dove. . .

Dee Yoder said...

Well, I've had my fill of all the yucky cream-filled-days, but the good thing about them are, you can still lick the chocolate off the outside. (: Love this analogy, Laura! It suits my chocolate-loving soul.

Sit-N-Chat said...

I enjoyed your post. Chocolate seems to be the universal temptation. I like the texture of a chocolate kiss, the crunch when it breaks apart... And I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. I have run to Him for my very life. He is faithful.

Have a great weekend.

Jennifer

Laury said...

What an appropriate blog. Life is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes you open up the box, mouth salivating, and it's empty. Ugh... Life is grand:) LOL. Thank You God for helping us through each chocolate-less day and days filled with an abundance:)

Sita said...

I needed to hear this today...
"You see, no matter what chocolate we are “in the middle of” right now, He is there…with the certainty of His promise today as well as His hope of Heaven in the future. Listen to how the verse above continues to encourage us: (vs.19-20)"
Thank you...

And I unapologetically declare myself to be a tropical coconut woman! Cool coconut water straight from the shell on our way to the beach on a scorching hot day with a cooling ocean breeze (oooh yeah!), scraping out the coconut jelly, coconut ice cream, coconut pone..yum! Mixed with chocolate, double yum!

Happy Valentines Day!

Julie Arduini said...

You know I love chocolate! I'll eat anything but the jelly filled, but I love the milk chocolate with any filling but the jelly.

If God asked me to choose chocolate or your writing, it wouldn't be easy, but I would give up the chocolate. Your writing is so anointed. This was another excellent post.

Joanne Sher said...

Just excellent, Lauradear. Such an incredible message. The analogy is incredibly apt. Praising Him no matter what chocolate I'm "in the middle" of - and you are SUCH an incredible example of doing just this.

Patty Wysong said...

LoL--I'm with ya on the coconut things!! eww. And I'm with you, too, on binging on God's box of chocolates! What a great analogy, La!

Huggles!

Mari said...

I love all things chocolate, especially a spiritual application.

Those "filled" chocolates can be tricky so my mom taught me how to handle them. You get a good knife and cut 'em in half to see what's inside. and if you don't like that kind you can dig out the filling and just enjoy the chocolate.

Hmmmm....analogy here? On those chocolate filled days, take the time to cut the chocolate open...if it looks as if it may be a day you don't think you can handle, dig out the yuck and enjoy the remainder of the chocolate day. Often times it is our "choice" as to what kind of chocolate day we will have.

Anonymous said...

Came across your blog on the blogroll for CWO. Just wanted to say, I am not a chocolate lover really, but I love your analogy. I also love that He knows the "middle" of the things we are in the process of consuming. It may be sweet, just so-so, or it may even be bitter but He is still on control. I LOVE that!