Have you met the Cheeseball Chick?

If you’re pondering the question with a blank stare, let me enlighten you.

Molly Sanborn from Minnesota has become known as the Cheeseball Chick. She has been used by God in incredible ways, so that she can encourage the rest of us to look for God’s goodness in the midst of our trials. Because this has similarities to the theme of my book, I felt a strong connection with her.

Sometimes we just need to pause. To stop and reset if you will. Or maybe “refill” would be a better word. Having been bogged down lately with recovery from my surgery and working on my book, I’ve felt a little dry. Running on empty. So, I signed up for the Flourish Women’s Conference this weekend that was organized by some amazing women at my church.

The conference was just what I needed to fill my cup. The music was powerful, and God just seemed to pour out His presence. Many of us experienced His love through the speakers, one of which was Molly, and through fellowship with one another.

I shed so many tears during the conference.  

The first night we heard from Marilyn Nemmers. She shared her story of faith and trust in God after tragically losing her parents and grandma at age 17, and later becoming a widow with 3 kids at age 35. She praised God tearfully during the song Goodness of God.

“And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God”

Molly Sanborn, AKA the Cheeseball Chick, had us laughing through stories and photos:

• of how God used cheeseballs to bring joy to others
• of her tricked-out shopping cart
• of her brief, painful experience competing on Wipeout, a television show on ABC where contestants must run through an obstacle course.

But she also encouraged us as she shared with considerable transparency about a difficult and dark experience surrendering to God’s desire for her to open a coffee shop.

My book is about learning to trust God’s promises. Listening to Molly speak, I was also reminded that sometimes God’s promises are not easy.

In this world we will have trouble. This is a promise of God through Jesus in John 16:33. It is not one of the promises I am quick to claim. But it’s there, nonetheless. And if we’re going to follow Jesus, we can’t ignore it.

Molly told us of a brief conversation she had with God during this difficult time in her life that ended with, “I just wish you could come down and give me a hug, God. I really need a hug.” Out the door of her apartment she went. As she proceeded out of the building, she passed a mom with a young boy about eighteen months old. She offered the obligatory wave and continued down the hall.

Then she heard the pitter patter of steps behind her. When she turned back, she found the boy coming toward her with outstretched arms. Molly looked at the mom questioningly, and the mom looked at her with bewilderment.

“He’s normally a pretty shy little guy,” she explained.

As he stood there with his arms raised up toward Molly, his mom said, “I think he wants a hug.”

A hug.

Yes, I sobbed a little at this personal expression of God’s intimate love for Molly. He gave her the hug she requested through the chubby little arms of an eighteen-month-old boy.

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

We have not because we ask not.  What is it you need from God today?