Julie Zine

Coleman

Contributing Writer

Julie Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Her award-winning book, Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed through Jesus’ Conversations with Women, was published by Thomas Nelson. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or walking her neurotic dog. More on Julie can be found at unexpectedgod.com and Facebook.

More from Julie Zine Coleman

What Determines Your Value?

“The Lord takes pleasure in His people ...” (
Psalms 149:4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
NASB)

I am no diva.

My daughter would roll her eyes at this statement and say, “No kidding!” Before every speaking event, Melanie insists on approving my outfit. She is afraid to let me leave the house without fashion supervision. “Put on some mascara,” she urges. “Lipstick will make you appear more professional.” I sigh and try to be obedient to her fashion sense, since I have none of my own.

One spring, on a shopping trip with my cousins, we wandered into a chic makeup boutique. Right away I knew I didn’t belong there as I noted the glamorous women browsing the store. But as I tried to stay inconspicuous and peruse the aisles (so as not to embarrass my cousins), a makeup artist swept over. It was like I had a bulls-eye painted on my forehead. She wanted to give me a makeover. I tried to explain that makeup wasn’t really a huge part of my daily routine. A face like mine would be a waste of her time. She insisted.

I felt sorry for her. She seemed so nice and sincere, so desperate to please. So I put myself into her hands. The woman worked wonders. My eyes looked brighter and my face younger. I wrote down every product she used to perform her magic. Then I went shopping.

Please note: previously, the most sophisticated cosmetic purchase I had ever made was at the drugstore. So as I shopped, I didn’t think to look at prices. How expensive could eye shadow be?

If only I knew.

Eventually, I found myself in line with my little basket of purchases, again noticing the beautiful, stylish women now in line all around me. Obviously, if you cared about your appearance, you bought your makeup in this place. I tried to pretend I was a regular customer and nonchalantly stepped up to the counter.

The young beauty behind the counter rang up my purchases. “Good news,” she enthused. “You have spent over $150! That entitles you to a special gift!” One hundred fifty dollars? For blush and powder? I almost passed out.

Excruciatingly aware of the beautiful people surrounding me in line, I gulped and handed over my credit card, trying to look casual, as if this was a routine purchase for a diva like me. My hand shook as I signed the credit slip. I thought I might possibly throw up, right there in front of a bunch of supermodels. How would I explain this to my husband? How good can makeup really be?

My cousins and I left the store together. I was still shaken. “I j-just spent $150 on eye shadow,” I stammered. “Those people think a lot of their makeup.”

My sister patted my hand. “And you paid their price,” she reminded me. “Apparently, so do you.”

In the real estate market, a home’s value is pretty much determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. Similarly, the signature on my credit card slip indicated this makeup was indeed worth $150. At least to me. Apparently.

We can say the same for our own worth, according to Scripture. Our value has been determined by the price God was willing to pay.

“You were redeemed ... with precious blood ... the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB).

Our value to God is unfathomable. He proved it by shelling out an exorbitant, unimaginable price: the life of His only Son.

This middle-aged woman, and you, my friend, are absolutely priceless to God.

When Everything Falls Apart

Life rarely goes according to plan.

Six years ago, my daughter-in-law Bethany went into early labor. As we waited in the hospital lobby, we were concerned. The baby was in distress. He would be born 10 weeks early. Bethany had not had an easy pregnancy. I fervently prayed for her and the baby’s well-being and resolutely determined to trust in a good God.

When my son Daniel finally arrived in the waiting room, he was crying. Bethany was fine, but the baby was not. There were severe complications. He had to be resuscitated three times. His abdomen was filled with fluid. He could not breathe on his own. He was severely anemic. His features indicated Down Syndrome. They didn’t think he would live through the night.

The next morning, I awoke to the cheerful voices of Joseph’s two big brothers, as they charged out of our guest room to start the day. I lay in bed, knowing I needed to get them breakfast, yet feeling that the mere act of getting out of bed was impossible. I wearily asked God: “How could you? Why would you bring this kind of trouble into this sweet family?”

God immediately impressed His answer right into my heart. “Am I good? You need to decide what you believe about me.”

I knew the danger in forming any ideas about Him through looking at the situation. I could easily be misled by my limited, emotionally tainted perceptions. What we know about God cannot come from circumstances. Rather, we should define our circumstances based on what we know to be true about God.

So after breakfast, I sat down to think through what I knew about the character of God from His Word. He is holy. His integrity is beyond reproach. He is love. Compassion marks His dealings with us. He freely and continually gives us grace.

God’s actions are never spontaneous, erratic, or arbitrary. They are outflows of His perfect nature. Whatever conclusion I came to about God’s dealings with us in this crisis, it had to be within the parameters of His unchanging character. I needed to interpret our circumstances in light of the Circumstance Maker.

Whether or not I understood what was happening, I could trust Him, because He is good. As Paul wrote the Ephesians,

God moves and works “according to the kind intention of His will.” (
Ephesians 1:5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
, NASB)

I chose that morning to rely on Him. No matter what lay ahead.

As I slowly rose to my feet, it was with a deepening sense of dependency on the God who kindly directs my path. I would cling to Him like a life preserver through the fog of grief and uncertainty. And I would be better for it.

Saying yes to God gives us an opportunity to go deeper with Him as He reveals Himself in new ways. It opens a conduit for His blessing. When our hearts are soft, willing to listen, eager to obey, we are moldable. We have cultivated the soil. We are ready for transformation.

Over the next 10 weeks in Children’s Hospital’s Newborn Critical Care Unit, Joseph slowly improved. Eventually, he went home to start life with his family. God has great plans for this child. Even at six years old, his little life has already had an impact on an enormous number of caring friends and strangers. We are blessed with every smile and new accomplishment. God continues to make Himself known through it all, as we love and trust Him for Joseph’s life.

He is good.

The Lord, the Lord God, [is] compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth.”
Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out,"Yahweh!* The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy!I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
, NASB