UNEXPECTED GOD-THREADS

Experiencing God can be a lot like experiencing wind. You can’t see wind, but you can see the effects of the wind.

Similarly we can’t see God but we can see the effects of God all around us. Today, I want to share a story that illuminates a powerful way I’ve experienced God. 

You’ve likely heard of our 5 minute video The Thank You Project with over 150 million views across many platforms. It’s had quite a broad effect, far surpassing anything I ever imagined. 

What I’ve never shared publicly is how The Thank You Project was born directly out of working on my Chinese album, Mandarin Lights. A beautiful golden God-thread wove these two powerful and unique experiences unexpectedly together.

It was the night before day 1 in the studio where I was to begin recording in Mandarin-Chinese. (The hardest thing I’ve done professionally). We had gathered a group of people to pray, some I knew and others I was just beginning to know. That night they asked me to sing one of my songs in Mandarin. I shared about Beauty Was There, a new song I was going to record the next day. 

This song is directly linked to healing in my journey of widowhood. So, as I shared this story I mentioned how it had almost been 10 years and I wanted to find the heroes who’d helped save our son Eli and thank them. 

Just then, a friend I barely knew practically fell off our couch in shock. He didn’t know our story and began asking many questions. This friend was Jon Strong of Strong Films. He worked with Arnold Palmer hospital (the very same hospital that cared for Eli!). Immediately he knew he wanted to share our story. 

1 year later our story was being aired on the TODAY Show on Thanksgiving morning minutes before the Macy’s Parade. The biggest viewership of the year. The video went viral and the rest is history. 

If we hadn’t followed the God-prompt to do the Chinese project, (even though in so many ways it was impractical and challenging) and if we hadn’t gathered friends to join us in prayer that evening before going in the studio, it’s likely The Thank You Project would never have materialized as it did and encouraged countless others. 

This is a powerful God-effect on display. I never could have conjured this up or made this happen. But I’m deeply grateful for these experiences. And though I know we all experience God in unique ways, I want everyone to enjoy the beauty and excitement extended to us. Should we choose to live with our eyes and hearts wide open to experiencing the effects of God in and among us, life is anything but boring. 

“Taste and see that the LORD is good.” It might not taste or look like you expect, but it’s undoubtedly good.