Concatenation.
A few Sundays ago a friend asked me about a new program at our
church. I knew nothing about it.
Although her question was tinged with a bit of frustration,
it was appropriate. And I too was irritated, not by the question, but that it
even needed to be asked. Why didn’t we know about this program?
No problem. I knew the people to ask, the necessary
connections to make. I knew how to please
God. I could get the answer.
Irritation and peace—they are not bed-fellows. “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not
as the world gives…” John 14:27 (italics mine). And therein was the
problem. My clear-to-me solution was following the path of the world. Just get
the answer. I knew enough to give this issue a bit of time.
Two days later in the midst of doing errands ruminating over
her question and my plan, the Lord brought to mind Romans 4:20 and 21, “No distrust “made him waver concerning
the promise of God…” (italics mine). I thought about God’s promises for her,
those generic and specific-at-the-same-time words. God promised a good plan for
her. God promised that He adopted her for His purpose. No distrust…
That left me with a question: was I going to trust those
promises, those words from God? Or was I going to push ahead with my own plan?
My plan, the do-er, pleaser plan was taking the easier path
of control. The way of trust is often the more difficult way.
There was a big part of me that wanted to do my plan, to
quickly bring closure. But what was I going to do with that niggling lack of
peace?
The do-er pleaser part of me was also a selfish part. I
wanted to take control, to receive the credit. YUCK!
In the end, the peace that comes from trust won. Ahhhh,
I could breathe again.
Concatenation?
Lately I’d been pondering the difference between pleasing
God and trusting God. And as God so often does he linked together life-experience
with spiritual truth.
“And without faith
(trust), it is impossible to please him…” Hebrews
11:6
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