A Life in Exile

You always want your work to make a splash in the world, especially when you are striving to do the Lord’s will and want everything to be for his glory. When it doesn’t go the way you think, you wonder why.

A verse we studied in Sunday School this morning may be the key:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

God had provided so abundantly. The translation of my book, A Life Surrendered: Raouf W. Ghattas was complete. I finished the layout, which was a feat, in and of itself. The publisher had everything in hand, and I received the email, “Your book has gone to the printer!”

Then my free copies arrived. I tore open the box.

They printed it backwards.

Yep, after numerous emails reminding them that Arabic goes from right to left, thus the “back” of the book to us, is the front to Arab-readers, they still did it wrong. So, I started the process of getting it corrected. It took another month and a half, but I finally got my “corrected” free copies and was happy.

The book was ready to share with my Arab friends. I was just waiting for it to get listed on other online book distributors, so I could share the links. Today was the day…

They ALL posted the back cover first and upside down! How could they not figure out that it was not right? I mean, there’s a picture on it and we’re upside down! Every single online posting of the book I’m so proud to share is wrong.

My husband is upside down. Why Lord?

Because he just wants to show me that his grace is sufficient. I wrote my publisher, I wrote each of the book distributors, but I did so with a calm spirit. That’s grace. That’s ALL HIM, not me.

So, feel free to order that upside down book and share with your Arab-speaking friends, because it’s worth it. It’s all about God anyway.

When we’re upside down, he’s always right-side up!

Are you feeling a bit backwards and upside down tonight? Rejoice! His grace is sufficient, and he’ll show his power in an amazing way. I’m waiting for it. What about you?

Grace and Peace