The holidays can be difficult for those facing loss. Sometimes God will bring a stranger across our path to bless us, and help us heal. Susie’s guest in this podcast is author Kathi Macias. We’ll unpack the message of Christmas and talk about how God’s provision comes in unexpected ways. Kathi’s book is Unexpected Christmas Hero.

Susie: I like word pictures and my mom always shared this one with me: If everybody put their troubles on the table, we’d end up taking back our troubles.

Kathi: I’m the same way. My pastor shared this with me: You’re facing this mountain, and you see yourself on one side of this mountain and you got a teaspoon and you’re chipping away at it, trying to dig a hole, dig your way through this mountain and each spoonful you’re ready to give up. What you don’t see is on the other side there’s God with this huge earth mover, just coming along, and at any minute now the whole thing is going to be scooped up by Him and moved away and you’re gonna see God. But all we’re focused on is this little teaspoon. This is all I can do! I’m never going to make it! And you’re absolutely right. In our own strength and our  little teaspoon, we’re not. But God’s on the other side of that mountain with the earth mover coming our way.

Susie: The big heartbreak during the holidays is relational breakdown and relational loss.  Can you offer a word of encouragement to those grieving? How can they find joy and peace amidst the reality that “I’ve not seen this mountain move yet”?

Kathi: We picture these perfect scenarios during the holidays… but when our scenarios aren’t perfect, those areas are the things that are magnified and cause the hurt. But God is working behind the scenes. He is behind that mountain, so don’t quit scooping with your teaspoon.

Key Scriptures: Matthew 25:40; 1 Samuel 16:7; James 2:1-4; James 2:15-16

Theme Song: In the Bleak Midwinter by Fernando Ortega

Highlight : Unexpected Christmas Hero

Unexpected Christmas hero