Nothing's Random With God

Today Sarah writes about the difficulties in our lives being firmly under God’s control and how they are being used by Him for our benefit and growth. At first I thought about keeping my thoughts private as every day during this past week and the next few are reminders of where we were just one year ago.

One year ago today I was in a meeting that was key in a series of events that led to a decision that Robin and I made a year from next Thursday. And as I searched out the impact of this meeting and the other events, conversations, readings, and even pleadings, we saw God clearly unfold for us our need to trust Him in taking a huge and difficult step. This past year has been a series of these steps one after another as we have continued to seek Him and wait on Him, learning more and more how important it is for us to rely on Him whether it has been in hopeful anticipation or for strength in disappointment.

During this season there have been plenty of times when I wanted to panic and think of ways to take things into my hands in order to speed God along. But the reality also has been that there was nothing more that I could think of to do that would accomplish this. It truly has been one of those seasons where He has been and continues to be our hope. And I am thankful that He has given Robin and I an enduring peace as we have waited on Him. We truly do not know what the future holds, but as a dear friend who called me today reminded me – we know who holds the future. Thank you Neva.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (5/10)

Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View your problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me.

When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life, since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5