As I sit here this morning, I have been pondering the ways of God. The Word tells us that His ways are not our ways, just as His thoughts are not our thoughts. As I look over the landscape of my life, this passage of God’s Word seems to be living itself out in me.
We know that life is a journey, a process whereby we are searching and stretching towards things that we cannot even see in the natural. Sometimes, however, it’s easy to understand why people give up on the roller-coaster ride. The constant drain on the emotions, one day up, another day down. There are those seasons where it seems that no matter which way we turn, we are destined to hit a wall. Ouch!
I hate the process! I really wish that I could get to the end and reap the rewards! I would like nothing more than to hit my stride and become and achieve and celebrate the spoils of my victories. That would be great if I were destined to be a ‘self-made man’, . . . but alas- the cry of my heart is to be a ‘God-made man’!
The Word of God tells us that we walk in steps ordered from the foundations of the world. It states that whom God foreknew, He predestined. The Word tells us to rejoice for the steps of the righteous are ordered by God. This means that where you stand at this very moment in time- is God ordained! May be hard to believe, I know, but still true.
What I have come to realize is that God loves the process that I have grown to hate. The reason is simply that He does not see me as I am- but sees me through His eyes of faith. Think about that for a minute. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God, but have you ever stopped to think that God has a tremendous amount of faith in you? The God of all things that exists, both seen and unseen, has put His trust and His faith in you and in me! That blows my mind!
If you and I are predestined, then that means that God saw the end before He brought us forth. You and I cannot fail, if we can accept the higher ways and thoughts of Father God! The Word states that He is not the author of confusion, and also states that He is our peace. If we are walking around confused and restless, then chances are strong that we are being ‘self-made’ instead of ‘God-made’! This goes against most of what the world around us strives for.
Remember David? Had God not chosen him above his older brothers? Had God not anointed him to be King? Had God not predestined him to rule over Israel? Yet did David not find himself running for his life from Saul? Would that not be both discouraging and confusing?
I can hear David questioning God in the depths of that dark and dreary cave. “Why?” . . . “Why would you allow this to happen to me?” “I didn’t ask for this, God!” “Was it not You who sent the prophet to my father’s house anoint me King!” “How can this possibly be Your plan for me?” ” If I had known that this was going to happen, I would have stayed in the fields with the sheep!”
I believe that God’s response would be simply to say, “Exactly”! If God had told David what was up ahead, he would have probably emphatically declined. No one wants to be in that position. It seems so unnecessary, and border-lines on cruel and unusual punishment. At least that is how it seems to me.
But let me ask you, “Where was David’s army assembled?” When were David’s foreign relationships with the enemies of Israel established? Where did David get his leadership training? When did David get his greatest victories?
It was in the cave! It was in the place of discomfort. It was in the place of separation from his family. It was in the place that he probably least desired to be, that God chose to forge his identity, as well as his destiny. It was a point in his life filled with chaos, fear, danger and uncertainty. Yet God allowed it to work all things together for his good, as well as for the good of the whole of Israel!
I once heard a very powerful and successful business man say that you can never connect the dots of success looking forward. The dots cannot be seen from this vantage point. It is only when looking backwards that you are able to see how every experience, every win and every failure played its role in getting you to the place where you successfully stand today.
That being said, we can look at the place in which our feet stand today and rejoice, for the steps of the righteous are truly ordered of God! You may not understand what is going on around you, but you are not called to connect the dots going forward, that is God’s job. You, like this business man, can only connect them when looking back. But as the Word commands us, Stand today- doing all to stand! Embrace His thoughts and His ways right where you stand!
Jeremiah 29:11 states-
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, - to give you a future and a hope.”
He really is taking you somewhere . . . you just have to trust Him!
