Do you ever feel like a little pawn on a giant chessboard in this game of life?

The good news is that God is the ultimate Chess King! He knows how to play on multiple dimensions simultaneously at least a thousand moves ahead. His divine strategy causes us to move our pieces into the right spaces at the right time to accomplish His purposes without violating our free will. Of course we must submit to play according to His rules in order for everything to work out in our favor!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28 NKJV

I had just been writing about this chess revelation and thanking the Lord for the way He strategically orchestrates every detail of our lives when I was suddenly faced with a potentially frustrating situation. My tire was flat! Monday was coming to a close and I still had an evening meeting to attend but I was stranded at work. Believe it or not, my response reflected my earlier meditation. I remained completely unshaken as I evaluated my options:

1. Call AAA (and wait 45 min for help to arrive)
2. Do it myself

I had never actually changed a flat tire by myself, but I had helped (or rather watched) someone else change one before. I considered the fact that I would be participating in a disaster simulation with CRI (Crisis Response International) at the end of the week and thought, “If I can’t change a flat tire, how can I respond to a real crisis?” Since I was in a parking lot rather than the side of a freeway and wearing pants with comfortable shoes instead of a skirt and high heels, I said to the Lord, “Let’s change this tire together. Show me how!” I got the jack properly placed but my vehicle did not come equipped with a suitable tool to turn the crank. I was also having trouble unlocking the spare from the back of my KIA … sooooo, I asked a gentleman getting into his car just to help me figure out the lock on the spare tire.

Long story short, the guy stayed to help, we changed the flat, and I got a lead for some possible graphic design work. I then drove to Sam’s Club, got my flat repaired along with all my tires rotated and balanced for free, and was able to encourage a friend not to look at any circumstance as inconvenient. While waiting I read some of Joyce Meyer’s book “Battlefield of the Mind”. The subheading posed a question, “Trial or Inconvenience?” Fortunately, I managed to keep the right perspective. The whole affair only put me an hour behind schedule and I still made it to my meeting on time. Not to mention I had the opportunity to “work with the Holy Spirit” as Joyce described. Well, I’m glad I passed this test of patient endurance.

My response to a situation the previous week was not so glorious. I was just going along adoring the Lord when all of a sudden it hit like a nuclear bomb dropped by an enemy aircraft flying under radar … DESPAIR … that wicked foe of my soul! I was just rising up from the rubble of a previous explosion when I came crashing down again, this time because a potential prospect graciously informed me he was “not interested.” I barely knew what hit me. Wow! Entering the Promise Land requires victory on multiple fronts in numerous battles with heavy opposition. But though a righteous woman falls seven times she gets back up. So moving right along, I picked myself up out of that ash heap of despair by focusing my thoughts once again on adoring God. That’s when I began to see Him as the Divine Chess Champion.

God is intricately involved in every detail of our lives. There is no such thing as coincidence. I am trusting in His perfect leadership to guide me into the right position at the right time with the right people to fulfill His Kingdom purposes. I will not lose heart because I believe I will see the Lord’s goodness.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13 NKJV

I am confident that Jesus will get this little “pawn” across the chess board of life and turn me into a beautiful queen. After all, our Beloved is the King of all kings!

– Chérie Blair