Tag: trials

God Knows What He’s Doing

Have you ever been involved in a situation where you didn’t understand why things were unfolding the way that they were, or what you should do about it?

I had an experience like this last week.

I had prayed about a decision, and moved forward with what I thought was the correct course of action. But things didn’t work out like I thought they would.

At first, I was upset. I didn’t understand. I was confused – angry, even. But the Lord showed me that even though I didn’t understand, He knew what He was doing.

God worked things out in such a way that the outcome was better than what I had ever hoped for. If I had not moved forward in the beginning, I would not have given Him the opportunity to work. And if I had fought His change of direction, I may have missed the lesson that my Father was attempting to teach me:

He knows what He is doing…and His ways are always best.

If things aren’t going your way, a good course of action might be to take a step back and to listen for His voice. He may have something planned for you that is far greater than you could ever dream.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

Photo Credit: Roland Batke-Mutschler

He Holds the Future

Lord, I praise You for Your sovereignty over the broad events of my life and over the details. With You, nothing is accidental, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted. You hold in Your own power my breath of life and all my destiny. And every trial that You allow to happen is a platform on which You reveal Yourself, showing Your love and power, both to me and to others looking on. Thank You that I can move into the future nondefensively, with hands oustretched to whatever lies ahead, for You hold the future and You will always be with me, even to my old age…and through all eternity.

~ from 31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew, Day 5, by Ruth and Warren Myers

Photo credit: Unknown

Stone of Remembrance

This morning, after speaking to my Mother and then reading a devotional from Our Daily Bread, I was challenged to remember. Remember what God has brought me through; the battles He has already helped me overcome; the times that I so strongly wanted to give up, and yet God enabled me to keep going.

It’s so easy to forget those times.

It’s so easy to continue through life from one day to the next, focusing on our present difficulties and not taking the time to remember the victories that God has already accomplished in our lives.

But it’s in remembering that we gain the strength to push past our present difficulties and move forward.

After I completed a 12 week mental health program in September of this year, my small group held a little ceremony, and I was given the opportunity to choose a stone from a box. A stone that would help me to remember the time that I had spent in the program, and all that I had learned. It was meant to be a physical representation of this time in my life: of the struggles I faced, the hard work and effort I put into my recovery, the relationships that I built with my doctor, therapists, and group members–of the fact that I had reached the end of this specific journey and was now moving on to the next.

God has always been there for me. He has never let me down. Yes, there were–and still are–many times when I feel like I won’t be able to get through whatever it is I’m struggling with. Times when I prayed and prayed, yet felt like I received no clear answer from God. Times when I even doubted God, or got angry with Him, because it seemed like He wasn’t there, wasn’t helping me.

But the truth was–and IS–that God is there. He is with me. He is guiding me, strengthening me, encouraging me. Giving me the insight and wisdom that I need to make life decisions. Giving me the grace and mercy that I need when I mess up (and there are so many times that I mess up)! Giving me the understanding, acceptance, and compassion that I deeply long for, when I feel alone and misunderstood.

He is there for YOU today.

Take a moment to review your past experiences and to remember the difficulties that God has brought you through. There are most likely many circumstances that He has helped you to overcome! That same God–the God who helped you in times past–is with you today. And He will help you face the challenges of tomorrow. ❤