My Lucky Day
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21
Looking back now, I can see that God was already writing a story I never could have imagined.
Over twenty-three years ago, our lives took a surprising turn.
Jay and I were in our forties with young children, living happily in South Carolina when Jay began sensing God calling him to leave entrepreneurship and become a pastor. That calling led us to pack up our lives and move to Chicago so he could attend seminary and serve at a church.
It was a big step of faith. We left behind family, friends, and everything familiar to move to a place where we knew no one.
During our first year there, I volunteered at a conference at our church where I heard psychologist and author Dan Allender speak.
He said something simple but profound:
“Your whole story matters to God.”
Those words opened something deep in my heart. I began writing my story—with a trail of tears—and started reading his book To Be Told.
Not long after, a woman from our church invited me to join a project that helped people reflect on their life stories and recognize God’s presence in them. I already had plenty to do—but something in me said yes.
That simple invitation eventually led to the creation of Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story with Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing. In the early days, I even collated and shipped the materials from our dining room table in Chicago. Over the next seven years, I had the privilege of working alongside them and leading retreats together.
When we first moved, I assumed the change was for Jay’s calling.
But God was quietly writing a new chapter for me too.
Recently, I had the chance to meet Dan Allender in person here in Atlanta and give him a copy of our book, sharing how his words years earlier had changed the trajectory of my life.
It felt like a beautiful full-circle moment.
That was my lucky day.
Not because of luck, but because in that moment I could see the story God had been writing for more than twenty years. A difficult move across the country, a single sentence spoken at a conference, and one small “yes” had all become part of a much bigger story than I ever could have imagined.
And without that unexpected calling years ago, I would never have been part of the story God is still writing at Peachtree Church today—proof that God truly does more than we could ask or imagine.
Who has helped shape your story?
If someone comes to mind, perhaps this week is a good time to thank them for the “luck” that brought them into your life.