Experiencing Clarity in “Aha” Moments

Have you ever had an “aha” moment? You know, a time when something suddenly made sense…something that had perhaps puzzled you until then?

Joseph’s aha moment

This morning I read about Joseph’s “aha” moment and it brought tears to my eyes (Genesis 45:3-9). Imagine how he must have felt when he realized that God Himself had ordained his circumstances in order to fulfill His purposes!

About twenty years had passed since his brothers had thrown him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. Twenty years — that’s a long time to brood and plan revenge. Finally his chance comes to get even, but Joseph refuses to stoop so low.

Joseph’s aha moment reinforces his understanding of God’s sovereignty over his life. It frees him from anger and bitterness and a desire for revenge. It allows him to embrace his brothers and rejoice at being reunited with them.

My aha moment

When my husband and I were newlyweds, we lived in Nepal where he worked as a civil engineer. We lived in a mud and rock hut with a thatch roof, no electricity, no running water, and no indoor plumbing. I struggled with isolation and loneliness, culture shock, and language learning.

We had our first child while living there, and I had no older women to show me how to care for this new baby. When our second child was born with medical issues that required an immediate return to North America, I struggled with reverse culture shock.

Over the years, I often wondered why God asked us to go through what we did only to bring us back to NA. And then came the “aha” moment.

Now we’re the directors of International Messengers Canada, and one of our roles is to provide member care for our missionaries. At the first IM conference we attended, I shared my testimony with our missionary women in Eastern Europe when these words came from my mouth:

“And so, ladies, when you struggle with language learning, I know how you feel. When you struggle with loneliness, I understand. When you go back to your countries and struggle with reverse culture shock, I get it!”

That’s when the light came on in my head. Aha!

God is sovereign

God had a plan. He was sovereign over every detail in our lives. He knew exactly what He was doing when He put us into that overseas situation and then took us back to NA. He was preparing us for a ministry that would begin more than twenty years later.

We don’t always get to see God’s plan. In some instances, we have to wait until we reach heaven. But whether we experience an “aha” moment on earth or beyond the pearly gates, we can rest in the knowledge that God has a plan and is in control.