I’d love nothing more than to sit face to face with you and have a chat over a coffee, but we will just have to pretend. So grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s chat!
Do you know we can’t catch God off guard? We never stump Him, surprise Him, shock Him. We can’t knock Him off His throne bewildered or flabbergasted. God doesn’t get His “knickers in a twist” nor is He flustered. He isn’t taken aback, perplexed or rattled. These are not His attributes. They never were & they never will be. God isn’t sent reeling by anything. He doesn’t have knee-jerk reactions or roller-coaster emotions. He is God. He is steady. He is the Rock. Never changing. Faithful. Immovable. He knows all, sees all, hears all. He is prepared.
There isn’t anything that He doesn’t already comprehend, although He Himself is incomprehensible. He is not confounded by the wise, yet He confounds the wise. He is not shaken, yet He shakes the heavens & the earth. He is not stumped or left speechless, although He leaves us awe-struck and without words to describe His greatness & His goodness. He is mighty. He is ready. He is prepared.
He is prepared for everything we could throw at Him. Our thoughts, our questions, our expectations, our high & lofty ideas, our discouragement & disappointment. Our passion, our confusion, our temptation, our pride, our insecurities. Every emotion, every feeling. He’s not dazed or repulsed. He can’t be …. Because He is LOVE. His arms are always open. His eyes are always on us. His thoughts are always for us. He is prepared.
He is prepared for us. Waiting. Longing. Searching. Looking. Listening. Full of compassion, righteousness, justice. Pure. True. Merciful. He is prepared for all that lies ahead in life & in death. Today & tomorrow. He never changes. He is prepared.
And He PREPARES: for those who love Him.
•“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
•He prepared good works for us to walk in. Ephesians 2:10
•He prepared a kingdom Matthew 25:34
•He prepared a city Hebrews 11:16
•He prepared a table for us, right before our enemies! Psalm 23
•“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent (this body), is destroyed, WE HAVE A BUILDING FROM GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens … Now He who has PREPARED us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 & 5
When we begin to understand that God is prepared, our trust, our hope, our faith will increase. It will not be misplaced, put in man, a system, or an organization, but rightly placed in the ONE who is awesome and excellent. The One Who is the great King over all the earth. Who reigns above the nations & sits on His holy throne. Our eyes, our perspective, our focus will begin to shift & We will exalt Him above the noise of this world, the media, the politics, the news, the reports, the statistics, all that is seen & all that is said. He is above it all. when we come into agreement with that truth, then our worry, fears, anxiety, confusion, the noise, will begin to fade into the background. we will stand in the inheritance, the position that He has already prepared for us right here on earth, right NOW ….. a position of faith, of steadiness, of strength, of hope, of courage. He Himself is prepared, He has prepared for us in the eternal & in the here & now. For those who love Him, it is a place of glorious, enriching inheritance. A place of peace. It’s already prepared!
He crossed the expanse between heaven and earth. God became flesh.
He overcame in the wilderness, He walked the dusty roads, and He crossed the stormy seas. He walked on them. He spoke to them and He calmed them.
He taught in the fields and fed thousands. He ate at the tables of sinners.
He shared and laughed with people in their homes, on the streets, by the well, on the shores.
From home to home. Town to town. City to city.
Each place bringing Him closer to the hill of Golgotha.
The CROSS.
The path was always leading Him to that hill, the hill where He would be crucified.
He knew what was coming, yet He stayed the course.
What lay ahead for Him did not deter Him from seeing those He would encounter on His way.
His eyes met with the eyes of those for whom He’d give His life. Some would love Him and follow Him. Some would betray Him and curse Him. Some would have ears to hear His Father’s heart and eyes to see His Father’s love. Some would close their hearts, their ears, their eyes and turn away with bitterness, hatred, and denial.
He still went to the cross for each of them.
All along His journey He healed, He taught, He delivered, He spoke, He forgave, He saved.
And as He approached the garden outside of where He knew He would be crucified, He prayed and He wept.
And then carried His cross up that hill, wounded for our sins, beaten for our burdens, whipped for our wrongs, crushed for our iniquities, stripped for our shame.
He bled. He cried out. He died. For the joy that was set before Him, you and me, He endured!
He went into the grave so WE could be brought out of our own.
His love didn’t stop there though.He crossed that chasm once again as he did His greatest work in secret.
Beyond the tomb when all was dark, when others thought all was lost and hope was gone, Jesus was still at work. It was in that place, between the crucifixion and the resurrection that Jesus conquered sin and death.
In times of crisis, when everything around us feels absolutely out of our control, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, can all make their way up out of our hearts and to the surface. Times of shaking begin to shake loose the things we have been holding onto, areas we have falsely placed our identity and security in, and at times those beliefs that have become quite foundational to our lives without realizing it. We are faced with the reality of what we value, what we treasure, who we love, what we believe, and the condition that our faith is truly in.
Questions arise in our hearts. Some are deep, and some may seem quite shallow and ridiculous, but they are still questions that rise up and require a bit of thought and hopefully an answer. What is important to me? Have I loved well? Am I doing what I am am meant to be doing? Do I enjoy my life? Am I making the most of this life I am given? Is there anyone I need to forgive or apologize to? Am I eating well and taking care of myself like I should be? Should I have spent my money better or saved more or invested? Do I need to give more? Do more? Be more? Do I believe in God? Do I trust Him? Am I loved? Am I happy? On and on the questions pop up, and we are faced with having a bit of a “reality check” of our lives.
Certainly doesn’t feel like the time to be “lying down in quiet pastures”! But it certainly is a time, an opportunity to sit and evaluate and search our hearts for answers. We may be pleasantly surprised that we are content, that we have loved well, handled our finances with wisdom, working in a job that is fulfilling, and strong in our faith. And then we may be quite discouraged with some of the answers to these questions, finding ourselves disillusioned with life, not sure if we are really doing enough, out of shape, faltering in our faith, financially broke and emotionally broken. Regret, fear, disappointment, confusion can come crashing in on us like a tidal wave. Self evaluation isn’t always fun, nor does it always make us feel like we are shining stars or conquerors of mountain tops, but it is good …. It is good when we remember that no matter what we find, WE ARE NOT STUCK THERE.
I have to admit that during this pandemic I have been a little shocked at what all has surfaced in my heart. My biggest disappointment is that I have felt so much fear surface. Some of my foundations I have discovered, have not been built solidly on God’s strength and power and trusting in Him, but more on what I can do in my own strength and in my own power. That illusion of CONTROL has often reared its ugly head as something I am building my life on. And when it’s smoothed over with a layer of PRIDE that says, “I got this!”, it gives the illusion of being strong and ready for anything! All seems right as I think I can handle whatever comes in my own power, instead of really leaning into the strength of an Omniscient and Sovereign God. It’s all good …. Until the shaking comes and then all of the cracks in my thinking and my plans begin to show.
I’m sure that is why God seems to continually give me Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE SHALL direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” It is the daily reminder that I am meant to trust in a God who is powerful and mighty, not in my own strength or anyone else’s for that matter! He knows all, loves me well, and is 100% FOR ME!
I can trust him with what I don’t understand, but sometimes the real challenge is to trust him and not even lean on those things that I do understand. I have found in this time, that the key to overcoming my fears and facing the issues of my heart that have been surfacing, is in the ACKNOWLEDGING HIM part. It’s an action! A choosing! Intentionality! Acknowledging Him in every area of my life. Acknowledging Him as I answer each question that rises up. Every attitude, every doubt, every fear, every anxious thought. Every fact and every feeling, I am called to acknowledge Him. I do this by declaring who HE IS.
I acknowledge that He is God and I am NOT! I acknowledge that He is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Faithful Father, Loving, Kind, slow to anger, compassionate, Healer, Deliverer, Sovereign, and Good. I declare His goodness over my life, over my past, my present and my future. I declare and acknowledge that He is still sitting on the throne. He has loved me from the beginning, forgiven me, and has filled me with the same power that resurrected Christ, His Holy Spirit. I give him the reins and declare that HE REIGNS! As I “acknowledge Him”, I feel Him directing my heart, my thoughts, my emotions, leading them down a path of FAITH, STRENGTH, LOVE, AND HOPE! He leads me beside still waters and causes me to lie down in green pastures – places of peace and places that refresh my heart.
SO NO MATTER WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE TODAY IN THIS SEASON, NO MATTER WHAT IS RISING UP IN YOUR HEART AND MIND, GOOD AND BAD, THINGS WE UNDERSTAND AND THINGS WE DON’T, BEGIN TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD. LET HIM SHAKE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SHAKEN – FEAR, PRIDE, PAIN, HOPELESSNESS, DOUBT …. AND THEN LET HIM RESURFACE YOUR FOUNDATIONS WITH HIS LOVE, HIS STRENGTH, HIS POWER, HIS PEACE, HIS FAITHFULNESS, HIS PROMISES. HE IS GOOD! HE WILL DIRECT YOU AND BRING HEALTH TO YOUR BODY AND STRENGTH TO YOUR BONES. HE WILL DIRECT YOU TO THOSE PLACEA OF PEACE – STILL WATERS & GREEN PASTURES. ♥️
It’s a funny saying, but one my husband uses often to remind me, that faith and action go together. They are partners. You can’t have one without the other. In fact we can’t really say we have faith, if we aren’t willing to put feet to it. Faith has legs. Faith has feet. Feet walk best when they are walking IN FAITH.
Faith without action is dead …. It may be believing something, but only to the point that we might think it, say it, or feel it, and that is as far as it goes. We use the term “walking by faith” which sums it up quite well. Real faith walks. It takes the first step. We can all talk about dreams, but will we put feet to them? We can say we have faith in God, but do we really believe He is faithful enough and trustworthy enough that we are willing to obey Him? We can all talk about what we “feel” we should do or could do, what we are hoping for, believing for, what we have faith for, but if we aren’t willing get out of our comfort zones and take that step, then what does that say about our faith? Faith acts. Faith moves. Faith shifts things. It should move us, shift us, cause us to act. We are the carriers of faith. We are the vessels that God uses faith to move through and produce the evidence. If we don’t put legs to our faith, feet to our faith then we become the road block instead of the pathway for God to fulfill His promises. Faith acts. Faith is activated through our actions.
Action without faith is dead … It is doing something in our own strength, our own way, with our own agenda. It is taking steps without being lead by God, without trusting God, leaning only on our own understanding and ways. This will cause us to become weary, frustrated, confused, and possibly disappointed and disillusioned. We can work very hard, jump out of the boat, so to speak, but as soon as things get tough, start to look impossible, take longer that what we thought, we will begin to feel like we are drowning. We give up. Action without faith will cause us to fall short and wear us out because we don’t see the promise ahead of us. Faithless acts can cause us to wandering aimlessly with no hope. The Israelites had promise. They were just delivered out of captivity and in faith didn’t just walk out, but they ran. Sadly though their actions became faithless. Their walk became a stumble because it was not strengthened by faith. They lost sight of God, of the goal, and wandered as they wondered. We may be doing all of the “leg-work” but without faith behind our actions, our legs will eventually give out. When our actions are partnered with faith, driven by faith, surrounded by faith, no matter how difficult the task may look, no matter how long it takes, no matter the opposition, we will find ourselves with sure footing, leaning on our faith, secure and motivated to keep on keeping on.
The beautiful process of faith is the promise that FAITH PRODUCES ACTION and ACTION PRODUCES MORE FAITH. What a beautiful cycle. A wondrous flow to be caught up in. Faith causes me to step out, and as I step out, my faith grows. Putting legs to my faith strengthens them. Faith becomes my sure footing. I act in faith. I walk in faith. Faith grows. Faith increases. Faith carries me further than I could ever go on my own. As I step out in faith, God, in all of His incredible Sovereignty, strengthens my feeble knees and releases more faith to walk out some of the biggest adventures in my life. Faith has legs.
In our search to understand who we are, we must walk in discernment & supernatural wisdom, as to not fall for finding our identity in a counterfeit formula or way.
If anything tells us that who we are is now static & unable to be anything different, then it is not truth. We are told biblically that we have the renewing of our minds, we are being transformed into the image of God, we can go from glory to glory, we are bearers of Christ’s image, becoming more like Him and new creations in Him. We are called to die to self, deny self, lay down self, just as Christ did for each of us. The danger is that we become lovers of self, self-absorbed, self-focused, instead of fixing our eyes on Christ.
If we begin to find our identity in any other book, belief, system or person other than the Word of God and in God Himself, we will never be fully satisfied or ever feel fully loved. We are not told to find ourselves, figure ourselves out, understand ourselves, know ourselves. We are called to find God, know God, seek God, trust God, confess God, believe God. We are also called to love others, bless others, give to others, heal others, forgive others. We are told to love ourselves, but that can only truly be done as we get to KNOW GOD and His love. Read the word. The more we discover God, the more we discover ourselves – not the other way around.
Food for thought:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:35
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
I have this phrase running through my head recently …. “IGNITE THE LIGHT”!
A scripture that has helped me in along my journey with the Lord is Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” His Word, His truths, His promises, His message, His Son who is the Word made flesh, is what brings light to my path. It illuminates the road I am called to walk on, each step. It is what leads me in righteousness and holiness. His Word gives direction, wisdom and peace. Through it I am able to take the next step – whether that is towards a deeper relationship with Him, help in a relationship with someone else, with a job, a ministry, finances, freedom, healing, wholeness, understanding, every decision I need to make …. I am encouraged that He will be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The whole thing may not be lit up, so I don’t necessarily know what miles down the road looks like, nor what is even around the corner. But it does mean that the next step He is asking me to take, I can trust He will show it to me, and walk it with me. This promise means that as I go to His word, it will illuminate any darkness in my life, any sin that holds me back, any fear that would parlalyze me, and give me just enough light to help me step out into the unknown with even the littlest amount of faith I have.
I continued to read more in Psalm 119, the absolute longest Psalm in the Bible, but so full of treasure and wisdom and hope. Verse 30 grabbed my heart. “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” This comes with an invitation. The invitation is to you and to me, to open the door. To give entrance to His Word. To give it room in our lives. We have the power to open the door of our hearts and let His Word flood in. It is our free will to choose, and the choice is powerful The choice is critical. Yet the choice is simple once you have tasted the Word and promises of the Lord and His faithfulness. It is like honey to the lips. A wellspring to the soul. And truly a light that brings hope, security, and blessing. The beautiful thing is that it also brings understanding, just the right amount that we need for that moment, for that decision, for that next step.
We must IGNITE THE LIGHT. Go to the Word. Get in His Word. Even if it’s one verse at a time. Write it out. Speak it out. Sing it out. Shout it out. Put it on your bathroom mirror. Put it on your fridge. Put it on your dashboard. Put it on your screensaver. Now is the time. The Word is our sword. Our most powerful weapon that we have been given. It gives light. It gives strength. It gives understanding. It gives hope. It gives courage. The Word of God.
Because He is the Word, it represents who He is …. Active. Powerful. Living. Truth. It exudes love because He is LOVE. It exudes hope, because He is HOPE. It exudes Light, because He is LIGHT. Let Him in. Give HIs Word entrance to your heart. Activate it. Ignite it. IGINITE the LIGHT!
When life gets hard
When I am feeling down
When the wrestle is real
When my shoulders feel heavy
When my knees are feeble
When I’m feeling unsteady
When joy is hard to find
I look to my Savior.
I don’t have to strive
I don’t have to pretend
I don’t have to muster up strength
I don’t have to put on an act
I can be real with where I’m at
Because It’s HIS JOY that STRENGTHENS ME It’s HIS JOY that CARRIES ME It’s HIS JOY that LIFTS ME It’s HIS JOY that wins the wrestle, lifts the load, relieves the heaviness, clears the fog, and steadies my feet on the path.
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. He has plenty of it. And as I focus on this truth, I am reminded that I AM THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM AS HE ENDURED THE CROSS. WE ARE HIS JOY.
And then, I begin to feel His delight, His joy over me. It covers me. His love covers me. And we walk down the path, towards wholeness & healing together, hand in hand – Me being real and Him pouring out His very REAL LOVE & STRENGTH. He leads. I follow. Down the pathway to JOY.
Four years ago Rod and I traded in our 8-seater Ford Expedition for a little, sporty Buick Verano. I cried at first. That big ole SUV carried more than just people, it carried a ton of family memories. Adventures, new beginnings, date nights, friends, visitors from other countries, wonderful times! But it was on it’s last “pistons” so to speak and it was time to get a new vehicle. So my sweet husband found me this cute, sleek car with all the bells and whistles, as he called it, and was so proud to bless me with it. It had blue tooth, touch screen, gps, back up camera, seat warmers, everything electric and computerized, and more ….. everything except space. Interestingly enough though, I myself was personally entering into a season of new things that required me to get focused. It was a time of not worrying about the million other people I love and want to always do things for and help, and to just have a small plate, focused only on the task that was set before me. So God used it as an encouragement, as well as a reminder of the season He was bringing me into. There were a lot of amazing experiences we walked into, some really incredible surprises and celebrations. It was like being blessed with so many “bells and whistles” in our lives that we had never experienced before.
Then last year we came upon an opportunity to trade that Buick in for Rod’s dream truck! It is a bold red, 4-door flat bed truck with a Hemi! He got the truck and I inherited our youngest daughter’s car as she and her husband moved across the United States to live. Now I found myself driving a medium sized sedan, Honda Accord. No bells and whistles, no seat warmers, no back-up camera (had to relearn how to actually turn around and look to back up), no bluetooth, no fancy anything really, but it was extremely comfortable. Like a cozy blanket, I felt safe, confident and comfy in this car. It had just enough room to fit three of my grandkids in their car seats and the material seats made it super easy to vacuum up after them. If they made a mess or spilled something, I was completely at ease with no worries of them hurting the car. A perfect Mimi car. And once again this car represented a season in my life – one that I had grown comfortable with. A season where I kind of knew what tomorrow held and could make plans and go with the flow, and felt confident, safe and secure. A season where the boat wasn’t being rocked, the ground felt steady, life felt semi-predictable, and there wasn’t a lot of major challenging or stretching situations. I’ve been thankful God allowed me to have that season. It has felt good. It has given me a lot of peace and a huge breather. But we can’t stay in those seasons forever, because although there is a lot of peace and rest, if we stay in that nice cozy, comfortable place too long, complacency can begin to breed. As well as a self-reliance, laziness, and a heart that begins to slumber, a passion that carries only a flickering flame instead of a roaring fire for the Lord and the purposes He has for us. See peace and confidence should never be found in myself nor in my circumstances, nor be dependent upon the environment around me. It must always be found in the Lord and in my relationship with Him or soon I will feel as though I don’t need Him and become a prime target for the enemy. Lulled to sleep, bored, which often leads to wandering and giving into temptations that do not bring peace and joy at all in the end.
Today though, as I was leaving to go meet some sweet new mamas over some coffee, Rod told me to use his truck. My heart jumped and felt a little giddy, as I love trucks! This could possibly be a little bit of ‘short person syndrome’ because it means I’m the tall one on the road looking down into everyone else’s cars – a bit of a power trip! I grabbed the keys, unlocked the door and went to climb in. This time though instead of just confidently jumping up into the big cab, I climbed up a little clumsily as I stepped onto the sideboard and had to fumble to find that handle above the door to kind of hoist myself up into the seat. Then I couldn’t reach the pedals – no surprise there! But it felt a little awkward as I’m sure I had to scoot the seat up even closer than normal just so I could press the gas and get the beast roaring! In those initial moments I found myself uncomfortable, feeling completely out of my element and not very confident. As I put it in reverse I questioned if I was even going to be able to judge how far to back up and the massiveness of this vehicle as I drove it down the road. I even felt doubt creep, wondering if when it came time to find a parking place at the coffee shop, was I going to be successful. It’s not like I hadn’t driven his truck before, but for some reason today it felt different. It felt like a challenge. I could feel the power of that Hemi engine as I pressed on the gas and suddenly was overwhelmed with the responsibility that comes with so much power.
It was in that moment I felt God say to me that it’s time again for a new season. Change is in the wind! It is fall! But with the seasons changing in the natural, God is bringing some new things, fresh wind, fresh fire, a crispness in the Spirit. And He wants us to be ready. As I drove down the road I started thinking about this past week and what God has been stirring in my heart. I have had some self-evaluation time and realized I’d become comfortable. I’d become confident within my own stretch and reach and abilities that I wasn’t really being challenged, stepping out of my comfort zones, stretching my faith and really leaning into Him. It’s not a bad place but it can become a dangerous place if we linger there or overstay the season. He reminded me as I felt the power of the engine and the beauty of a “new level” of perspective, that He is calling me onward and into new adventures that was going to require trusting Him, relying on His power, supernatural power and strength, as well as taking on a godly perspective and shift in how I see things. We have been called to look with eyes of faith. We are encouraged that it’s okay to be awkward and clumsy and be out of our element because it is in those places of stepping into the unknowns, completely dependent on God, that He can reveal His power, His faithfulness, His promises, His presence, His protection, His provision – HIMSELF.
As I parked, without hitting anything, I smiled feeling peace and joy, a supernatural comfort in my heart. This time it wasn’t because I was secure in my own abilities or environment. It wasn’t because I was nice and cozy in my own little bit of strength or comfort zone. It was because I know I serve a Big God, who is for me, who loves me, who has great plans and purposes for my life. Who is trustworthy and faithful. Who has the best adventures ahead of me just waiting for me to climb up into, and he’s provided some ‘sideboards’ and ‘hand rails’ to support me along the way! I only need to grab hold of His hand and get on board! The same is true for you! What vehicle is He calling you to step into?
“We are on the brink of an adventure children! Don’t spoil it with too many questions!” Mary Poppins
Watching Mary Poppins Returns yesterday with my grandchildren and this quote really struck me! I’m one to ask questions. Sometimes too many. I want to know. I want to know why, and how, and what, and who, and for how long ….. the list goes on. As a kid, if I asked too many questions at our dinner table or while watching a show, my dad would notoriously look at me and say, “What? Are you writing a book?” I would laugh, wait a few minutes, and then ask a few more questions in hope of some answers. I am sure this is why I thought I’d make a great detective when I grew up … although I became a teacher instead, and then was bombarded with a million questions by students, myself.
I love questions. I think questions are good. Wanting to know and being curious is a great tool for learning. It usually means the mind is working, the imagination is imagining, the wonder is wondering, and the learner is interested in learning. I am pretty sure it all starts at around age 2-3, as my grandchildren have reminded me. Two of our grandsons are around the same age and when they hit that 2 and half mark, they both began asking the “Toddler WHY”. At first it was fun and cute, and then it became annoying. As they discovered their new profound power of questioning everything and everyone, they began to use it to put off having to get dressed, eat their dinner, brush their teeth, put away their toys, go to bed and anything that required them having to do something that they didn’t really want to do. This not only meant it took longer to get things done, created difficulties at the dinner table and bath time, brought on tears of frustration (for both the child and the parent) and produced a headache for their parents as they tried to satisfy their bright toddler, but it also caused the toddler to miss out on some really fun adventures and blessings. These “whys” also caused delayed responses of obedience that had the potential for some extremely dangerous outcomes. Ultimately we all had to help them learn the delicate balance of when it was appropriate for them to be curious and ask the questions, and when they just needed to trust whoever was telling them something and obey.
As adults we aren’t far off from this toddler scenario. There are plenty of times we are found asking too many questions, asking the wrong questions, and even occasions when we should not be asking any questions at all. We can easily fall into the trap of ’needing to know’, that actually reveals more of a ‘needing to control’ issue instead. Just like my little grandsons, we have this inner need to know. We are born with the ability to think and learn and grow. We study in order to become wiser and discover things and get smarter. We have been trained to think that knowledge represents power. A profound power that gives us a sense of control, being in charge, knowing all of the pros and cons, possibilities and potentials, information and insight, that helps us feel ready, better prepared, equipped for whatever lies ahead. While this is true and there is wisdom in knowledge, in gathering information, asking questions, there is a very delicate balance. Too many questions, and even questioning someone or something at all, can also be extremely dangerous, debilitating, deceptive and even disappointing. It can paralyze us. It can prevent us from moving forward. It can put us in a place of disobedience. It can hold us back from some great adventures! Especially the ones God has planned for us.
While God is not afraid of your questions, and certainly does not mind you asking them, I have discovered that He doesn’t always answer them, not in the timing we want Him to, not the way we want Him to, and some times not at all. There have been many times God has answered my questions, but because I have already decided on what the answer should look like, I miss His answer. I have also found myself waiting and waiting for that answer to come before I do something, paralyzed with fear, afraid to take a risk, to move forward, and before I know it, that “something” has passed me by. Raise your hand if that has ever been you! The problem is not in our wondering, our curiosity or in our wanting to know or understand things. God created us with all of these as beautiful gifts. The problem is found in the MOTIVE BEHIND our wanting to know, and in the lack of MOVEMENT BEFORE we do know. Maybe some of the questions should be directed to ourselves first. Am I asking these questions and needing to know in order to have everything figured out? So I feel in control? To stoke my own pride, feed my sense of entitlement? Do I need to know all of these answers before I can move forward, step out, take a risk, try something new? Can I only ’trust’ God if He shows me the whole picture and answers all of my questions? Am I spoiling the adventure He has for me because of fear, lack of trust and needing ‘to know’?
In today’s society we have access to a whole lot of knowledge. It provokes us to ask questions. Answers are right at our fingertips. If we have questions, we can always google it, research it, find it. We want to know. We need to know. So we click. Click a few links and we feel like we know just about everything there is to know, about anything! Yet this kind of knowledge will not sustain us. It does not always provide the wisdom, hope, truth and answers we need. Often it can produce more questions and even bring more harm than good. This kind is fleeting and often changes as fast as the latest diet or healthy eating fad. BUT …. There is a knowledge that is lasting. A knowledge that sustains our whole being and gives us life. That feeds our faith and leads our future . The kind that will uphold us, lead us, direct us, give us hope, and carry us on some of our greatest discoveries of life and love. This is the KNOWLEDGE of GOD. KNOWING HIM. The knowledge of who God is, and who He is in us. We are encouraged in scripture to desire knowledge … not the kind of scholars found in research and books, but the knowledge of God. “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 We are told that understanding and wisdom is first found in knowing Christ. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 And Paul, a disciple of Christ, prayed over and over for the Church (the people of God, not an organization or building) that they would be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy.” Colossians 1:9-11
As we become more and more familiar with God and who He is … that He is FOR us. He is faithful. He is true. He is a good Shepherd. A good Father. He is trustworthy and HIs ways are higher than ours. Then our faith and trust in Him will increase more and more. We will grow out of the toddler stage and although we can ask the questions, we will be satisfied if we don’t get the answers. We will ask less “whys” and say more “yeses”. We will not be held back, paralyzed or hindered by fear or lack of answers, but will walk with prompt obedience, trusting Him with our steps, encouraged that His plans and purposes for us truly are good, to bring us peace, a future, and hope. As we grow in the knowledge of Him, we will relinquish control, trust in Him with our whole hearts, leaning NOT on our own understanding, step out of the boat, and not spoil the adventure with too many questions!
In the season of transition, that in between place of leaving behind the old in order to walk into the new, it is easy to get consumed by all of the unknowns and figuring out how to navigate this new part of our journey – Making plans and researching options. Weighing the facts. Listing the pros and cons. Feeling overwhelmed with the choices. Writing out the questions and waiting for the answers. Wondering if we are ready or not. Feeling rushed to get through it in order to reach our goal, our destination, our vision. The transition itself has so much potential, so much opportunity, that we want to keep that delicate balance or pursuit and drive while still enjoying the journey along the way. We must learn to trust the transition itself and not rush it.
We can get so lost in what is to come or overwhelmed with all of the unknowns, the waiting, the pressure of reaching the goal, that we miss the very moments of here and now. Being consumed by the vision, or the transition, does not make the vision more fulfilling or arrive any faster. In fact, it can make the transition itself feel heavier, longer, and a dread. We get our eyes fixed on the future, the dream, the vision that we lose focus of all that God is wanting us to experience and learn and enjoy today. There is always so much more going on around us, and in us. God’s bigger picture far outweighs the glory of our own. There are endless opportunities for learning and growing and enjoyment during the actual journey of getting there, the transition, and we will miss them if we don’t allow God to lead us to the vision in His timing, His way.
Talk about major transition! I love the picture of the disciples following Jesus. He called. They followed. No questions asked. Without being consumed with what was ahead, they instead looked to THE HEAD, Christ. Those who followed entered a time of transition. Stepping out of the world they had known and into one with a million unknowns. To walk with the One Who was not yet known. They left their places of comfort and stability to follow One who did not have a place to rest his head. The Bible doesn’t say they asked Him where they would be going or how much money they would make or what they would be doing. It doesn’t mention the disciples asking for plans with bullet points or a list of options A, B, & C, although they may have. There was no cruise trip or vacation promised, no retirement fund or money incentive laid before them. Their reward was knowing Him and discovering that they were KNOWN BY HIM.
They answered the Lord’s invitation to follow Him, without the future being mapped out for them. They left it all behind, without getting caught up in the need-to-knows or worrying about the who-to-knows. They hadn’t even had the revelation of knowing fully who HE was! They fixed their eyes on Him and they followed. They learned as they followed. They grew as they followed. Step by step. Day by Day. Every moment brought a new lesson, a value to hold onto, a character quality to grow in, a challenge to overcome. They lived in the NOW. The TODAY. The MOMENT. And each one taught them something so valuable for their future.
There were wow moments and whoa moments. Cowardice moments and courage moments. Moments of fear and moments of freedom. They were free to stretch and grow, free to learn at their own pace, just as who they were, learning through every experience with the one who led them. They experienced miracles and mercy. Provision and promises. They grew in trust and triumph. They learned how to lean in and lean on their friend, Jesus. They learned how to pray and how to heal, how to repent and how to forgive. They learned how to submit to authority & walk in authority. To confess and rest. To fear the Lord. They learned to love the sinner and love themselves.
Their journey of transition was filled with valuable tools and treasures. They laughed. They argued. They got things wrong. Got things right. They asked the questions. Shared their thoughts (even when Jesus knew them before they even spoke a word). They were free to mess up. Free to speak up. Free to wonder. Free to be. They were just – free. They stepped out in faith and followed. And so they learned. What a great reward! The place of transition became their greatest classroom.
They walked with Him and talked to Him. Each step He took, they took. They did not know where they were going, only that they were going wherever he led them. No G.P.S, just J.E.S.U.S. They must have trusted Him. They must have felt something when they were with Him. They must have heard the authority in his voice when he called them, that calmed their nerves and quieted the questions in their minds. They would have seen the depth of love in his eyes that wooed their hearts and canceled the “what-ifs”. His voice must have carried peace and power and promise. And so they followed.
He still gives this invitation today. To each of us. First to give him our lives and our hearts and then to follow Him daily in little ways and big ways. To learn, to grow, to lean in and lean on. To trust. To obey. To watch. To wait. And everything that He stood for and carried then, every bit of authority, every bit of peace, every promise, every bit of love that he had for his disciples, he still carries and offers to each of us today. And where He does this the most, is in our transition! Today, for whatever transition you are currently in or are eventually coming into, you are invited to follow. To follow the footsteps of Jesus, keeping in step with Him. He invites you to look past the planning, the lists, the agendas, the stress of trying to figure it all out. Beyond every unknown and every question and instead of being just driven to follow the dream, hurry the transition, get caught up in comparing or distracted by following a blogger, a ministry, a pastor, a cause, fix your eyes on the ONE who leads out of love, knows you best and knows the road ahead. The One who has a whole lot to offer during the journey of getting there. This will empower you and enable you to TRUST IN TRANSITION and embrace it in its fullness.
Life Interrupted 