The Blessing of Waiting

"So the LORD must wait for you to come to him

so he can show you his love and compassion.

For the LORD is a faithful God.

Blessed are those who wait for his help."
Isaiah 30:18 NLT

It's hard to wait.  I want to get on with my life, leave this time of suffering and hardship.  I want to see my loved one come to faith in Christ and taste the abundance of life He offers.  I want to be free from this wretched body of death.  I'm tempted to turn to other sources to find relief, to try different tactics to persuade, to up my effort in order to do better.  But there is a blessing for those who wait for His help.

Gracious.  One man should not have so much power, but he did.  And it corrupted him.  He sadistically presented the woman with two choices upon entrance into the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi Germany.  She was forced to decide which of her two children would survive and live within the camp, and which would immediately be killed in the gas chambers.  Sophie's choice was a decision no mother should ever have to make, but one the god of Auschwitz presented to her.  

Such manipulation by one in a position of power turns the stomach.  While God, the maker of heaven and earth could be such a god, He is not.  He does not play games nor is He is a bully God.  He does not manipulate or bribe His image bearers to come to Him.  He does not put mankind in impossible situations just to watch them squirm.  Instead, He offers life through faith in His Son Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross in dying as a sin offering.  Either I take it, or I leave it.

When I take Him up on His offer of life, I discover how rich in character He is.  He shows love and compassion to those who come to Him for help, willingly choosing Him over a myriad of options for finding fulfillment and contentment, peace and love, freedom from guilt and shame.  Within this sacred relationship, I am still given the choice of how I operate.  I can walk with my natural flesh and thus produce spoiled fruit, or I can keep in step with God's indwelling Spirit as the evidence of this cooperation makes itself known in ways I don't always notice (Galatians 5:13-23). 

When I long for intimate companionship with my Father through faith in Jesus Christ, I receive the blessing of His abundant grace made manifest in my life.

Faithful.  This ability to choose extends to all areas of my walk with Christ.  No matter how hard it is for me to trust another, I soon learn that God is faithful and can be trusted.  He gives me ample opportunity to see His faithfulness at work as He fulfills promise after promise, never letting me down and always doing as He said He would.  He never leaves me nor does He turn His back on me out of disgust are impatience with my hardheadedness.  

When I take His faithfulness to heart, I can take the chance to rest fully in Him, which is really no risk at all (Psalm 86:15).  There is no possibility that He might change His mind, or forget what He said He'd do, or lose track of time and leave me hanging (Numbers 23:19).  Instead, He is a God who can always be counted on to love me consistently, to keep His Word, to protect me from evil (Deuteronomy 7:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:3).   My part is to place my faith in Him who is faithful.

When I wait on Him as my sole source of all I need, I receive the blessing of His faithfulness made manifest in my life.

Sovereign.  If I had my way, everything would come about immediately, exactly when I want it. There would be no need to wait because anytime would be the right time.  Why wait until tomorrow when today is the perfect time?  But today is not always the perfect time.  I only see my part, while God sees the big picture.  He takes all the pieces of the puzzle into account, knowing which must come forth at which time.  He understands how long it may take for one heart to change, why others are reluctant to submit, what kind of crisis will bring some to their knees (2 Peter 3:9,15).  He knows.

When I trust in His sovereign power, in His knowledge of how all the pieces fit together, of His control of the timing, I have the privilege of seeing His best come to fruition.  Instead of settling for what I want now, whether it be relief from suffering or seeing my loved one come to faith in Christ, I am desiring His best over my inferior, His perfect over my deficient, His cream of the crop over my leftovers.

When I wait on His perfect timing, I receive the blessing of His sovereign power made manifest in my life.

I admit that I don't like to wait and often am guilty of taking matters into my own hands.  When I do wait on God, however, longing for His help and intimacy, I receive something I could never otherwise taste.  I discover the gracious grace upon which I count, His faithfulness that holds me up, and His sovereign power that brings it all together in just the right time.  These are some of the blessings I discover when I wait on Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to wait on His timing.

When do I try to force things to happen?

How am I failing to trust God fully?      

   

Chariots, or God?

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

Psalm 20:7

Common Sense, intelligence, street smarts.

Education, degrees, knowledge.

Lineage, pedigree, family heritage.

Income, savings, investments.

Know-how, positive attitude, self-faith.

There are many things in which I can place my faith.  There is much in which I can believe will pull me through the hard times.  When trouble hits, I can turn in many directions in order to find help.  What is my go-to source when the waters begin to rise, the embers smolder, the difficulties raise their ugly heads?  In what do I place my confidence, believing it will never let me down?  What helps me cope?

Whatever it is, if it's not God, it will fail.

Supremacy.  God has resources I know nothing about.  I recently was reminded of this truth when I cried out to Him in desperation.  The numbers in our family budget were not adding up, Christmas was coming and I didn't know what we would do.  I left it in my Father's hands and went about my day-to-day business.  Then the phone rang.  "Honey," my husband says on the other end of the line, "Would you check the account?  I just received a notice of a deposit for $500.  Do you know what that is for?"

I didn't, but I smiled, remembering God's promise to meet our needs.  It turns out, we were being reimbursed for our deductible after a car accident earlier in the year.  We didn't expect this payment.  It wasn't even on our radar.  Yes, God has resources we know nothing about.

The power of my God cannot be matched, comprehended or contained.  He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, has the hairs on my head counted, and intimately knows my thoughts (Psalm 50:10, Matthew 10:30,Psalm 139:2).  Such power is beyond my ability to understand.  With such a Father as this, is there anything He cannot do?  Is there any problem He cannot solve?  Any need He is not able to meet?  No.  He is more than able.  He is God!

If I trust in God like David did, I will not be disappointed.

Sovereignty.  Could I imagine God wringing His hands, worried about events that are taking place in His creation, wondering how it will all work out?  Of course not, He's God.  It's all in His hands, under His control, written in His book (Psalm 95:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:27,Psalm 139:16).

If I believe He has complete control, why do I wring my hands, worry about things that are happening in my life, wondering how it will all shake out in the end?  God knows.  He has my best interest at heart.  He is ordering my footsteps.  Therefore, it will be okay.  Everything will turn out as He planned as long as I work with Him, let Him have His way, cooperating with His beneficial plan.  Otherwise, I'll throw things off, walk on my own path that leads to destruction, miss out on all the good He has planned.

Not to worry even then, though.  Even when I do stray, He gets me back on track, just like a GPS system that recalculates when I make a wrong turn.  It doesn't tell me the trip is off and there's no hope so turn around and go home.  No!  It takes the data gathered from my present location and comes up with a new route that will get me to my original destination.  Similarly, with God there is always hope and it's never too late to turn back to His plan for my life.

If I trust in God like David did, I will not be disappointed.

Sanctuary.  I remember how I felt after my purse was stolen out of my car.  I no longer felt safe in my hometown.  I used to feel secure, as if I were somehow in a protected little bubble in the place where I grew up.  I never felt a need to lock a door, secure a window or look behind me.  After that incident, however, things changed.  The security I used to feel was gone.

While I may never know a place in this world that is free from crime, there is a safe place where I am perfectly protected.  God is this safe place.  Under the shadow of His wings I never need to fear for my life, nor worry that He will somehow take advantage of me if I make myself vulnerable to Him, nor wonder if He really cares enough to give me His best.  I can trust Him as my sanctuary.

He is so safe, in fact, that I can even entrust my mess-ups, sinfulness, and failures to Him.  His redemptive power is such that He can take all that I think I ruined in my life and turn it into a gorgeous tapestry (Romans 8:28).   He can take that which was done to me for evil and transform it into something good that He planned long ago (Genesis 50:20, Ephesians 2:10).  He has a way of using the ugly to create beauty (Isaiah 61:3).

If I trust in God like David did, I will not be disappointed.

There is so much in this world that I can trust to help me when times get hard.  When my back is up against the wall, I have my go-to resources that I believe will never fail.  If those means are not God, however, they will fail.  Only He is faithful because He is supreme, sovereign and a sanctuary I can trust.  If I place my faith in Him, I will never be sorry.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can place all my eggs in God's basket.

When do I hold back, not putting my full weight on God?

How am I trusting in other resources besides God?

Diversity of God's Care

"Can you stalk prey for a lioness

and satisfy the young lions' appetites

as they lie in their dens

or crouch in the thicket?

Who provides food for the ravens

when their young cry out to God

 and wander about in hunger?"

Job 38:39-41 NLT

There is a bat living in the foothills of the Andes Mountains that is the size of a raspberry.  The lungs of the changeable lizard have the distinct characteristic of being the only home for the rare nematode worm.  In all, it is nearly impossible for man to identify all of the life that exists on this diverse planet, but these are two of the most recent discoveries.  Estimates of the total of land animals vary but fall between 1.3 for the amount of species that have been cataloged, and 10 million in all.  

Turning to the tiniest of creatures, the insect world, the numbers are even more astounding.  Scientists have cataloged around 900,000 different kinds of insects, but there could be up to 30 million in existence *.  Thinking about the variety of God's creation boggles my mind.

God put great thought into His creation, and His ability to oversee it all, placing each creature in the perfect environment and faithfully providing for their needs is mind-boggling.  With such a caring and powerful Father as this, why do I worry?

Provision.  Only God knows what I need.  He made me and knows me better than I can understand myself.  He also comprehends my situation, the circumstances in which He has placed me.  With such intimate knowledge of me, He is the only One who is qualified to know my needs perfectly and provide for the necessities of life (Matthew 6:31-33).

Still, I fight for what I think is rightfully mine.  I'm ambitious, going after the things which I find necessary.  I can't rest until I have figured out how me and my family will be taken care of.

If I would know the generosity of my Father, realizing that I can go to Him with these worries, leaving the need in His capable hands, then I would be able to turn my attention to Him and His kingdom, leaving the tedious and time-consuming task of providing to Him.  All that is necessary for me is to know Him and make Him known in my little corner of the world.

God is the perfect Provider for all my needs.

Production.  Only God knows the purpose for which He created me.  This is His world; His production.  And like some complicated play that He has written and produced, He has made each character to fulfill a certain role, to play a certain part, to fill a specific hole.  Without each of us doing our part, realizing our place, and responding to His direction, the show will flop.  While I can't take responsibility for the well-being of all of mankind, I can pay attention to what God wants me to do.

Therefore, when I see Him at work around me, being bothered by a need I notice in front of me, I can step in and do something to share God's love with those who are hurting.  Even if it seems insignificant, I can do my part to the best of my ability, surrendering my fears and doubts to Him so that I can be an instrument of His love in the little part I play.  As small as it seems, my obedience is noticed and makes a difference.  While I may balk at doing what God has placed on my heart, skeptical as to my ability to do such a thing, my willingness to be used by God will uniquely impact the world as I step into the role God meant for me to play (Ephesians 2:10).

God is the perfect Director of this production that we call life.

Power.  Only God has the authority and control to pull all the pieces of my life together.  He is uniquely qualified and equipped to work each part for His glory and for my good.  At just the right time, God is able to put everything where it should be.

While God did give us free will, making it so I must cooperate with His will if I want to see His purposes carried out in my life, He has unlimited power to constantly pursue me in a way that will show me His loving care for me.  It takes power to be able to pull that off for each of His image-bearers.  How can God oversee such intricate details, going after each sheep that has strayed and making sure every child knows of His love?  Now that is power!

With such a God as this, who wants to be known by each of us, how can I resist His advances?  Why would I hold Him at arms' length?  For what reason is there to keep Him at bay?  Not only is this powerful God mighty, but His love endures forever and is impossible for me to fathom.  His love is part of His character, making it impossible for Him not to love me.  Therefore, I have nothing to fear and need not resist His pursuit of me.

God has the power to pull all the pieces of His creation together, working each part into an intricate and beautiful tapestry.

If I had God's job, I would crumble under the pressure.  But God is perfectly qualified as my Provider, the Director of life, and is powerful enough to bring it all together.  If I doubt this truth, all I must do is look around at the great variety of His creation.  With such diversity of God's care, I know I can trust Him in all things.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can turn all my worries over to Him, knowing that He cares for me and is perfectly qualified to love and cherish me in just the way I need.

When do I try to be my own provider instead of letting my Father do His job?

How am I resisting His work in my life?

*http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/science/30species.html?_r=0

 http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/bugnos.htm

Behind the Scenes

"If my land has cried out against me

and its furrows have wept together,

if I have eaten its yield without payment

and made its owners breathe their last,

let thorns grow instead of wheat,

and foul weeds instead of barley."

Job 31:38-40 ESV

Job wracked his brain for what he did to deserve such suffering.  In his mind, he'd been unfairly treated, given a raw deal for no apparent reason.  Since I have read his story many times, though, I have the advantage of knowing how it all came about (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6) as well as what happens at the end (Job 42).  It is apparent to me, and perhaps to you, that God had His own purpose that He is working out behind the scenes.  

The same is true for you and me.

Compliment.  I've heard of backhanded compliments, but this one may be the ultimate.  While it might be nice to think that God holds such a high opinion of my faith that He knows I won't turn from Him no matter what I go through, it doesn't necessarily ease the pain of the testing.  I'm sure it would have been of little consolation for Job to have gained this insight about his circumstances.

Still, it's better to be on this side of God than on the other, where I am known as the doubter who constantly turns away from the truth.  Or as the fearful one who is afraid to fully trust Him.  Or as the lukewarm one who doesn't care one way or the other.

To have my faith tested means that I am treasured by God, that He thinks of me and considers how He can show me what my faith is made of, giving me insight into the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me.  Going through times of trial that are meant to grow my resolve as a follower of Christ, give me perseverance to keep hanging onto the hope I have in Christ (James 1:3-4). It is then that I'll know that my faith is real (1 Peter 1:7).

When I go through hard times, I can trust that God is at work behind the scenes testing my faith.

Limits.  I live in the world that us ruled by my enemy (John 14:30, 2 Corinthians 4:4).  It is his mission, in part, to steal the peace that is mine in Christ, to kill the love God has put in my heart, and to destroy my faith in the God who loves me perfectly (John 10:10a).

While it is his world to rule for now, Satan is not without limits.  It is clear from the story of Job that my enemy must have the permission of God in order to mess with me.  If Satan wants to use a tactic against me, he must first go through my Father for clearance.  Since God is a good God who is for me, not against me, and He has promised that He will work all things for my good, then I can be sure that whatever He allows into my life will bring about fruit (Romans 8:31,8:28, Jeremiah 29:11).

This brings the assurance of God's sovereignty into my trial.  If it's come into my life, that means it has passed through my Father's hands and He has deemed it as necessary for my development as His child.  The suffering is not in vain nor without reason, but will be used to hone my shape into that of Christ's, in the same way that a sculptor uses a hard tool to define the details into his masterpiece (Romans 8:29).

When I go through hard times, I can trust that God is at work behind the scenes overseeing Satan's tactics.

Ending.  "And they all lived happily ever after."  While that ending may only come about in fairy tales, I do have the assurance as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ that He will finish what He has started in my life (Philippians 1:6).  He is faithful to accomplish His purposes in my life.  

Furthermore, while my life may not end the way I expect, I have the hope of heaven where I will be perfectly restored to my original condition.  In other words, the body I now dwell in that is ravaged by sin and darkness will be made new, transformed into an immortal one (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).  This gives me hope as I suffer in this broken shell-of-a body.

Even more exciting is how I will be reunited with my Father who loves me and given a place in His home as His child by faith (John 14:2 , 1 John 2:28-3:1).  The ending is pretty sweet indeed.

When I go through hard times, I can trust that God is at work behind the scenes bringing about the perfect ending.

In the same way that Job was not aware of what was going on out of his sight, I am similarly oblivious to God's hand at work in my life.  Knowing that He trusts me enough to test me, is overseeing the work of my enemy, and will bring about His purposes perfectly at the end can give me courage to persevere.  My suffering is not in vain because God is always at work behind the scenes.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God even when I don't know what He's doing.

When do I doubt because I can't see or understand what's going on?

How am I angry because God seems to be withholding good things instead of trusting Him to bring about His best for me?

True Freedom

"In the past you have encouraged many people;

you have strengthened those who were weak.

Your words have supported those who were falling;

you encouraged those with shaky knees.

But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.

You are terrified when it touches you.

Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence?

Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?"

Job 4:3-6 NLT

Job's friends started off on the right foot.  They supported their friend in silence, sitting with him in loving comfort while he grieved the loss of his children and wealth.  It was their intention to console him in his suffering.  So deep was his sorrow and severe his physical condition that they hardly recognized him.  They mourned with him and recognized his suffering as "too great for words" (Job 2:13).

Then they opened their mouths.  

The first to speak, Eliphaz, had the audacity to rob Job of his need to lament.  Even worse, he failed to empathize, minimizing Job's suffering.  Somehow, this insensitive, cold-hearted friend had come to believe that life would be peachy-keen as long as one does the right thing.  Unfortunately for him, he fell into believing the fallacy of the formula for a happy, carefree life.

Power.  Life is what you make it.  

              You are the author of your own life story. 

              "Believe in yourself.  Have faith in your abilities.  Without a humble but reasonable                  confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."  Norman                        Vincent Peale

              "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's                     plan.  And guess what they have planned for you?  Not much."  Jim Rohn

I'm surrounded by worldly messages telling me to make my own way in life. That it's up to me whether or not I succeed.  I'm told that I have what it takes to make my life what I want it to be.  

Using this mindset, then, it follows that I have the power to live right, to plan my own destiny, to write my own ending.  Accordingly, it follows that it is up to me to go after the life I want without ever asking God what it is He has planned for me.  I end up applying my own limited capacity toward my efforts to be self-disciplined, trying hard to keep away from what is bad and stick to what is good.  Thinking I can conform my life into my own mold, I assume anyone who is experiencing hardship or trial must be doing something wrong.  All it takes, I reason, is for them to get back on track and things will fall into place.

In reality, I have neither the capacity to do good nor the ability to save myself (Romans 7:18-20).  I'm hopelessly lost without the God who graciously gives me each breathe I take (Acts 17:25).  Without Jesus, I am nothing and can do nothing of worth (John 15:5).  

Buying into the belief that I have the power to make something good out of my life denies God's sovereign power.

Pride.  "Look at this great city of Babylon!  By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor" (Daniel 4:30 NLT).  Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon did not suffer from a lack of self-confidence.  He drew such pleasure in admiring his handiwork and liked to think it all came about by his own savvy planning, through the sweat of his brow and as a result of his hard-fought position and authority as king.

Then God set about humbling him.  After seven years of living like an animal in solitude among the beasts of the field, he acknowledged God's position, giving Him praise and glory (Daniel 4:28-37).  He came to know the hard way that, "those who walk in pride he is able to humble" (Daniel 4:37).

I often need a similar season of chastening.  I begin to think it was my hard work that got me where I am, that any success I enjoy is by the sweat of my brow, and while God may have opened the door, it wouldn't have flourished if it wasn't for my consistent effort.

The reality is that only God has the plan for my life and it is only His wisdom that can choose the right path for me.  Thinking otherwise drives me to judge others, determining that their struggle is due to a lack of focus or an unwillingness to apply common sense to their problems.  In other words, I begin to think I can fix anyone's problems by using my own formula for living.

In the same way that God placed Nebuchadnezzar in his position as king for His own purposes, He has a reason for placing me where I am (Jeremiah 27:4-7).  Once I begin to deny this truth, I start believing man has what it takes to direct his own paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Buying into the belief that I have the wisdom to know which path is best for me denies God's purpose and unknowable plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

Penance.  It seems too easy.  There must be more.  Surely I can't get off Scott-free?  

Forgiveness for sins through faith in Jesus Christ does seem too easy.  Even though Jesus declared atonement finished and salvation secured as He suffered on the cross and gave up His life, I often think there must be some part I must play, a role I am required to fill, or a duty I must carry out (John 19:30).  After all, I think, it's my sin so I must receive some kind of punishment.  Right?  Wrong!

In dying on the cross out of obedience to His Father's plan, Jesus accomplished all that is necessary to cover my sins and usher me into my Father's holy presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).  It was His blood that cleansed me from all unrighteousness (Isaiah 1:18).  Forgiveness is already mine due to what Jesus has done (1 John 1:9).  There is nothing left for me to do but simply believe (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Oswald Chambers explains it this way.  "When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept, instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God;  and by the supernatural miracle of God's grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done."

I often slip into the belief that I must suffer a bit for my sin, that there must be some kind of punishment due me for how I have fallen short, or that I am not worthy to receive forgiveness unless I make some kind of effort to do better.  This mentality leads me to project this lie onto others, refusing them the absolution that is freely theirs through faith in Christ.  Instead, I expect others to try harder, to get their act together, or to be truly sorry for their sin.  Instead, all it takes is simple faith in what Jesus has already done to secure their salvation. 

Buying into the belief that I have to perform some kind of penance in order to receive forgiveness denies the power of Jesus' blood to cover all sin.

It's easy to think my life will be fine as long as I work hard, do what is right, and make up for my sins through selfless service or some other form of penance.  This line of thinking is all wrong, though, as it denies God's sovereign power, His perfect purpose, and the power of Jesus' blood.  When I fall into this fallacy of the formula for a happy life, I'll soon find I'm projecting my faulty expectations on others.  Instead, it is my desire that I let God choose for me, trust in His plan for my life, and fully realize my dependency upon what Jesus has already done.  In these ways I'll walk in true freedom.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God fully with my life.

How do I attempt to control certain facets of my life in an effort to follow my own path?

When am I most at risk of thinking I am the captain of my own destiny?

  

God's Choice

"He said,

'I came naked from my mother's womb,

and I will be naked when I leave.

The LORD gave me what I had,

and the LORD has taken it away.

Praise the name of the LORD!'"

Job 1:21-22 NLT

The worst had happened.  His greatest fears had been realized as he lost his family and his wealth, all in one day.  Wave after horrible wave of news arrived, seeming to knock the air out of his lungs.

In the midst of the horrible revelation, in the middle of learning the worst, while he was still numb from shock, Job recognized an important truth about God:  He is sovereign.  What does this mean for me?

I won't get it.  I always thought it would be hard to serve in the Army like my husband did for 24 years.  During his years of service, he was expected to follow orders, even if they didn't make any sense.  It is important for a soldier to learn how to do as their told so when the moments of heated combat come, there will be no hesitation in putting the battle plan into action.  When everyone trusts the commander enough to follow his orders without question, success is more likely.

Living my life as a follower of Christ is similar.  The difference is that my Commander is all-knowing and understanding.  He knows exactly what is needed to draw my attention back to Him, to hone my faith, and to further His purpose. God has the perfect solution for every problem.  He has His own ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, my role is not to expect to be able to comprehend His reason for allowing certain difficulties into my life, but to simply trust Him.  He does have a plan.

Trust is not dependent upon my ability to understand what is going on and why it is happening.

He's still good.  It's all good.  It's one of my least favorite phrases in today's modern vernacular.  It sets my teeth on edge when I'm facing something hard and I hear the loathsome phrase.  How can they say this is good?  It's far from it!  

While it's true that God will use all things for my good, the circumstances, difficulties and just plain ugliness is not good (Romans 8:28).  What I can say with all certainty in the midst of the sorrow, grief and misery is that God is good.  He is a noble God who is worthy of praise and His purposes are always beneficial and what's considered as His best for me.  As a result, I can always praise Him.

Praise to God is not dependent upon my circumstances.

No guarantee.  I love a money-back guarantee.  It allows me to try a product or service for a period of time, testing to see if it's worth my money.  If I don't like it after the trial period, I can get my money back.  If I found it to be worthwhile, then I can keep it as my own.  That way, there is no risk.

Why do I find this benefit to be so helpful?  Maybe its because I want to see for myself if something is good instead of simply taking the word of the clever marketing scheme:  It's hard for me to think I might be taken advantage of.  I want the security of knowing I won't lose time or other valuable resources while testing the veracity of the promise.

The problem comes when I translate this same desire to life.  I've not been promised tomorrow, yet I assume it will be there.  I can't expect things to go the way I think is best, yet I usually want it my way.  The direction my life takes is not my choice to make, yet I like to think I can control the outcome if I try hard enough.  Life can seem an awful lot like gambling.  

Since following Jesus takes a risk as I give up my autonomy, rights to my self, and independence, I must also see that there are no guarantees in general.  As a result, I can look at each day, every opportunity, and all the openings I receive as gifts.  Since I don't know the plan God has for my life, I must trust Him in each moment, taking all that He gives with a spirit of thankfulness (Philippians 4:6-7).

Thanks is not dependent upon what might be but entirely based on what is.  


There is no question that life is hard.  It is filled with times of suffering, difficulty and trial.  When these inevitable times comes, I could get angry at God, losing my faith in Him, failing to praise Him for anything, and withholding thanks until things feel better again.  Or, when the crisis hits I could continue to trust Him even though I don't get what God is doing, praise Him for His goodness in the midst of the bad, and thank Him for all He is to me.  In these ways I am realizing what Job did:  What comes my way is God's choice.


As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to not expect to understand.

When do I think that I can't trust God because He is allowing such pain into my life?

How am I being narrow-minded and selfish in my view of God and His purposes?    

Praise in the Midst of Suffering

"'Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked shall I return.

The LORD gave,

and the LORD has taken away;

blessed be the name of the LORD.'"

Job 1:21 ESV

His name is synonymous with suffering.  In the span of a few hours his oxen, donkeys and servants were slain, the sheep and their shepherds eradicated by lightening, his camels were stolen and their caretakers killed, and his beloved children all perished as the house was destroyed by a freak windstorm.  This goes way beyond having a bad day; it is the epitome of suffering.

How could Job honor God when he had lost everything?  I would think he would at least be a little angry!  How did he praise and exalt the name of the Lord in the midst of such heartache and trouble, and how can I do the same in the difficulties I now face?

Kingdom Eyes.  It's easy to see the bad stuff.  The difficulties blare out, announcing their presence with what sounds like a trumpet blast.  Sickness hits, financial hardships come, repairs become necessary, rebellion rears its ugly head in the hearts of my children; life appears to be one difficulty after another.  

Meanwhile, God is busy at work behind the scenes extending His mercy, grace and love.  Yet I fail to see it because I'm using my own fleshly eyes to view the world.  If I shed such a lowly viewpoint and don a higher way of seeing things, I'll notice God's mercy in the timing of the latest calamity, coming as it did when I was better positioned to face it.  Or I will take note of the love of God pouring out through the people I come into contact with as I negotiate the pitfalls of the latest tragedy.  Or I find great comfort coming in the presence of God signified through a kind act, or a beautiful flower, or an unusual bird.

God never rests and He has promised to always be with me.  Sometimes, however, I forget to notice His still, small voice, or appreciate His reassuring ways, or perceive His merciful acts.  It then follows that I will think He has left me when in reality He has been there all along, giving me what I need to get through each moment.

Job was able to praise God in the midst of suffering because he looked at his situation through kingdom eyes, and I can do the same.

Humble Outlook.  Nothing about my situation seemed good.  I could not perceive how things would work out in the end.  It looked like a hopeless situation to me, that is until I stopped trying to be in control. 

When I am the lord of my own life, thinking I have to put out the fires, solve the problems, and come up with viable solutions, every little hiccup becomes a crisis and I start to feel as if there is no point to my life.  In short, I get discouraged.

Placing Jesus in the position as Lord of my life, however, gives me a chance to settle into my rightful place as a child of the God who has all power and resources yet loves me perfectly (1 John 3:1, Matthew 6:8, 31-33).  When I recognize His ultimate control and am able to identify His nature as good, I can put my trust in Him to lead me through whatever may come my way.  

If, however, I'm not sure of God's motives, suspecting that He may allow hurt into my life for no apparent reason, I will be wary of His leadership and attempt to go my own way in an effort to protect myself.  Unfortunately, I'll end up getting into more trouble and experiencing more hurt as I muddle through apart from His perfect love (Isaiah 26:1-4).  As C.S. Lewis said, "God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because it is not there.  There is no such thing."

God can be trusted.  He doesn't change His mind, is unable to lie, and will never go back on a promise (Numbers 23:19, James 1:17, Deuteronomy 7:9).  The only variable in my relationship with Him is me: Will I trust Him enough to submit to His authority?  Am I humble enough to let go of the reigns of my life?  Can I give up my so-called "need to know" mentality and surrender to His higher ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)?

Job was able to praise God in the midst of suffering because he possessed a humble outlook that trusted God to lead, and I can do the same.

Eternal Perspective.  It's so easy to think this is all there is.  When I adopt such an outlook I live for the here and now, grabbing all I can before it's gone and investing in fleeting pleasures.  The problem with this way of seeing the world is that when trouble comes, I feel like my life is over.  If there is nothing more than this life and things don't go well, what's the point of carrying on?  From where does my hope come?  Why should I keep trying just to get slapped upside the head time and time again?

When I know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, however, I gain a new perspective.  This world changes from the be-all, end-all to a temporary assignment (Philippians 3:20).  As a follower of Christ I learn that He is preparing a place for me in His Father's house, and that this place is where I will be perfectly satisfied and fulfilled (John 14:1-3).  Having such bounty and treasure to which I can look forward gives me strength to get through the nonsense which I must deal with here on earth.

Furthermore, knowing that Jesus is the ultimate Overcomer, that if I stick with Him I'll be on the winning side, gives me courage to stand firm instead of keeling over from the stress of life (John 16:33).  If I know who will come out on top, why wouldn't I pledge my life to Him?  Doing so means I will realize there is purpose behind the suffering, that He uses every situation in my life to bring about good while conforming me into the image of Christ, builds my character and develops eternal treasures (Romans 8:28-29, 5:3-5, Matthew 6:19-21).  

Job was able to praise God in the midst of suffering because he maintained an eternal perspective, and I can do the same.

It's hard to think about praising God as I walk through a dark valley filled with the stench of death.  It is possible, however.  I know this because Job was able to do just that, and his life serves as an example of how I can give God honor and lift up His name even when my circumstances beg for a curse.  I can look at my world through kingdom eyes, adopt a humble outlook, and gain an eternal perspective.  In these ways I'll be able to praise God in the midst of suffering.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to follow Him when He takes me down a rocky road.

How do I turn my back on God in an effort to avoid suffering?

When am I focused mostly on the bad stuff that is happening instead of God's goodness?

Let God be God

"But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

And again David asked the LORD what to do.

'Do not attack them straight on,'

the LORD replied.

'Instead, circle around behind 

and attack them near the poplar trees.  

When you hear a sound like marching feet 

in the tops of the poplar trees,

be on the alert!

That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.'"

2 Samuel 5:22-24 NLT

He had done it just a few days before, defeating the relentless Philistines.  When David's determined enemy threatened again, it would have been easy for David to assume he was to use the same strategy as in his previous victory: engage the Philistines head-on.  Instead, David had a well-developed understanding of God's sovereignty as well as of His higher ways, leading Him to seek out His wisdom. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Micah 4:12)  David knew each unique circumstance required a separate inquiry to the Lord in order to discover His distinct and specific plan.

I must keep this truth in mind as well.  Instead of assuming I should proceed as usual, it is important that I constantly seek His will in each and every situation.

In His Time

I am bound by time.  My life is often driven by appointments to keep, deadlines to meet and schedules to which I must adhere.  Whenever facing a struggle or difficulty, I often have a certain time-frame in which I'd like for it to be resolved.  I despise open-ended commitments; I'd much rather know the beginning and ending date.  I depend so much on the constraints of time.

It is a mistake for me to place God in this same category, assuming that He thinks the same way I do.  Instead, He is not bound by time in the least.  He is never slow and my artificial deadlines mean nothing to Him. (Isaiah 57:15,Psalm 90:4,2 Peter 3:9)  If I am determined to finish a project by the end of the week, it doesn't influence His perfect plan one bit.  I can no more will God to work within my parameters of time and space than I can herd a group of cats in the direction I want them to go.

Since time is not a factor for God, I would be wise to wait on His perfect timing, letting Him be God.  I often limit Him in my efforts to place a time constraint on His work.  When things don't work out in the period I have in mind, it is easy for me to give up, thinking it will never happen.  Or, when I grow tired of waiting, I'm easily persuaded to try another path, straying away from God's perfect plan.  Or, when I run out of steam in my effort to keep up appearances while I hope against all odds that God will come through, it's too simple for me to give up, cutting my losses and coming to the conclusion that I'm just not cut out to live by faith.

Time means nothing to God.  His plan is perfect, but if I'm going to let Him have His way in my life, I'll have to give up my desire to let time color His kingdom and influence His ways.  If Jesus is to be Lord of my life, I must let Him be Himself, working in the way He best sees fit.  If that means things happen faster than I expect; so be it.  On the other hand, if it means I die waiting, I must be ready to accept His sovereign, perfect plan.  (Hebrews 11:13)

If I am to live my life according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to limit Him by the constraint of time.

In His Way

He has his own way of doing things.  When I first got married to my husband, it was hard for me to adapt to his ways.  I liked to hurry through my chores, eager to be finished while he took his time, relishing the process or working.  He didn't mind leaving projects unfinished while I preferred to wrap up a job before I could rest.  He tended to be more laid back while I was pretty structured and rigid.

Now that we've been married for a quarter of a century, I have learned that there is more than one way to do things and my way is not the best way.  If I want to keep the peace in our home, it was necessary for me to learn to sometimes yield to his way.  

Similarly, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I also gave up my right to run my own life.  Instead, I acknowledged that He is the One who knows what's best for me.  Even though I prefer giving myself the illusion that I'm in control, when I admit that His plan is the one that will most benefit me, life goes so much better.

Instead of fighting to be the master of my own destiny, I can let Him lead me down the path I would never choose for myself. (Psalm 23:3-4) In place of trying to understand why things are happening the way they seem to be falling into place, I can seek His will without demanding to comprehend His mysterious ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  As a replacement for doing things in the way I best see fit, I can let Him choose for me.

If I am to live my life according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to do things my way.

For His Glory

My goals are in stark contrast to God's.  While I'm mostly concerned with my own comfort, welfare and reputation, God focuses on what will make the most of Him.  Whereas I tend to invest in what will bring attention and accolades to myself, God's goal is to make His name known to all the earth. (Isaiah 45:3, Isaiah 43:10) Although I look for the easiest path, God's plan is to mold me into the image of His Son using whatever means necessary to reach this goal. (Romans 8:28-30)

Therefore, if I want God to get credit for the great things He is doing, it is necessary that I cease looking for praise from people.  It is easy for me to get caught up doing things that will make me popular, or that give people a warm, fuzzy feeling, or that evoke a smile.  Instead of looking for such responses, however, it must be my intention to seek God's best, resulting in Him getting all the glory in place of me stealing some for myself. 

Furthermore, I will need to make less of me so more of Him can be showcased in my life.  While it is natural for me to do what makes me look good, I must switch to a desire that seeks to show off God's attributes.  Instead of doing something in my own strength, then, it will be necessary to let God work through me, loving the despised, forgiving the inexcusable, and showing mercy to the cruel and heartless.

Finally, it will be necessary for me to let go of doing what comes naturally.  In place of following my flesh, I can let the indwelling Spirit of God lead me, resulting in His fruit being produced and displayed in my life.  In this way people will see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven.  (Galatians 5:16-22, Matthew 5:16)

If I am to live according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to get all the credit.

In the same way that David understood the need to seek God's face in every situation, never assuming yesterday's solution will work for today's challenge, I must also gain this same understanding of God's sovereign nature.  In so doing, I will find a desire to let God work things out in His timing, in His way, and for His glory.  Then I will let God be God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God and His timing even when it seems like He is way too slow.

When do I limit God with my own assumptions and expectations?

How am I proving that I think I'm in control instead of God?