God is always working, most likely doing the most when we feel it the least.
And yet, God was always working. In fact, I think He was probably doing the most when I felt it the least. His methods of moving always seem to defy our understanding. In the middle of those twelve years, I never could have imagined that I’d be living the life I am now. I never could have imagined talking to you like this.
Our God has a very unconventional way of doing things. But then, He did give us fair warning of His manner of working:
“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
If He told us that His ways are not like ours, then why do we insist on trying to predict what He’s doing in our lives?
If He told us that His ways are not like ours, then why do we insist on trying to predict what He’s doing in our lives? There’s something about our humanity that demands to know what’s going on. Call it control issues… pride… fallen nature. However you describe it, it’s an issue.
As I reflect on the thoughts which most often consumed my mind during my teaching career, I’m realizing that I’ve always been on a search to know what is going to happen. And when it will happen. And how it will happen. I bet I’m not the only one whose thought life looks that way.
I remember telling others, even as I tried to convince myself, that I needed this information so that I could recognize the things of God once I encountered them. So that I would know which decisions to make when I found myself at a crossroads.
In truth, when I did eventually find myself at a crossroads – even the one that led me out of the public school system and into full time ministry – I never had to make a decision. Not once. My decision was made decades ago when I decided Jesus was Lord, and I was not. He worked it out. Every. Single. Time.
There are extremely good outcomes ahead, and in order to encounter them, all we have to do is keep walking on the path of His choosing.
I don’t really know how He works. I suppose that’s kind of the point of Isaiah 55. He’s God; we are not. All I know is that lately, I have learned that living in holy expectancy is less about the specific thing I expect to happen or that I’m believing God to do. It’s more about having faith in His goodness. Believing that there are extremely good outcomes ahead, and in order to encounter them, all we have to do is keep walking on the path of His choosing.
And that brings up another point – the goodness of God. Do you think we really understand what that means? I suppose not, considering His thoughts are nothing like our thoughts. When we say “good,” we most often define this descriptor according to what is good to us. What makes us feel good. What makes us excited. Comfortable. At ease. Those things are good.
I wonder if we have allowed our perspective on “goodness” to be persuaded by our feelings more than His character.
But is that what God means? I wonder if we have allowed our perspective on “goodness” to be persuaded by our feelings more than His character. When God works things together for our good, it may not nurse our emotional needs, but it will most certainly provide for our spiritual needs.
There is one thing I’ve been keenly reminded of today as I sit in the middle of my old stomping grounds: Though He really never does things in a way that I can predict or expect, God always brings things to an expected end of His design.
I’m learning what it means to be kept in perfect peace as I fix my mind on Him. Recalling how I sat in this very place 5 years ago, discontent and unsure of how I’d ever progress to the next thing. And now here we are. I don’t really know how that season changed, but change it did.
So now, when those same thoughts of “when and how” begin to scream their way back into the forefront of my mind, I will recall this moment. Taking in the same old view, but with new vision. If He did it then, He will do it again. Ever faithful. Always unconventional.
There is an uncanny peace which resides in the working of His unconventional ways.
Well done my faithful servant is the goal and the reward to be honest. I have been pondering on who God tells us He is and the response we are to believe because of Who God us. He is a Good Shepherd therefore I should not lack. If I FEEL like I am lacking that is a me problem and I can ask God to help me with my vision and heart that makes me see wrong or ask for His provision in the area I feel lack. Same as seeing God as a Good Father. God is who He says He is.. and He wants to help us see Him as who He is. That is the beautiful purpose of our lifetime relationship. An opportunity to see and experience the God of all Creation and His heart for us..
Thank You sis for sharing the journey to see well from the Love of God..
“That’s a me problem” I LOVE this distinction. Thank you for adding to the conversation 🤍
This hit me in what you said- “When we say “good,” we most often define this descriptor according to what is good to us.”
Then as I’m reading down further this part really spoke to me also, “I wonder if we have allowed our perspective on “goodness” to be persuaded by our feelings more than His character.” May God help me to see good and goodness from His perspective and not through my own lense.