In the past several months, a couple of my close friends have been going through the most challenging time of their lives. Being a part of this journey with them has also been extremely difficult for me. I am a “fixer.” I never actually realized that until about a month ago as I was desperately crying out to the Lord on their behalf. I was doing what any devoted Christian friend would do. Even though I was praying and asking the Lord what else I could do in addition to praying, I was also racking my brain trying to figure it out on my own. I was trying to come up with a plan of action; I was trying to fix the situation.
It was then that I realized I had been here before, not once, not twice but multiple times. This had been a pattern in my life, a pattern I needed to change. How did I still not get it after all these years? Did I not see the error of my ways? Clearly, I did not and there was still work to be done. The good thing is, God already knows. He knows that I am a bit stubborn and sometimes it takes Him reminding me once again that He is God, and I am not! I am not the Messiah. I am not the Savior of the world. I cannot even save myself let alone anyone else. Sure, there are always opportunities to help people, and we should always be listening for the Holy Spirit’s direction. However, God will make it very plain that we have limited capacity, and He does not. He is limitless! There is absolutely no limit to what He can do! If He chooses not to move in a certain situation at a particular time, there is an incredibly good reason. We need to pay attention!
As I was praying and imploring God to show me what I needed to do, He very lovingly and gently told me that I was doing all that I needed to do at that time. He made it abundantly clear to me that there were some things that He was doing, and it would take time. God always has a plan and a purpose for our lives. We cannot always see the work that He is doing but we can trust that He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is always moving in our midst. Whatever the plan is, it’s going to be for His glory and for our good. Therefore, as we pray and intercede on behalf of others, we trust and believe that God is still bending low to listen and He will answer according to His perfect will, in His perfect timing. In the meantime, there are lessons that He may be teaching us.
Many times, in our desperation we fail to stop, be still and allow God to speak. We are crying out in anguish and distress for someone we love, forgetting that God loves them more than we could ever comprehend. He loves every one of us with an everlasting love. In our despair, we somehow forget the magnitude of God’s goodness and faithfulness. We forget that the Creator of the universe who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name (Isaiah 40:26), chose us, set us apart, adopted us into His family and made us co-heirs with Christ. He takes care of His children! He did not save us to leave us as orphans wandering about the earth aimlessly with no hope of a better tomorrow. Jesus came to give us life and life to the full (John 10:10)!
“The result of the resurrection is not only His power and His presence but also His provision.” – Nicky Gumbel
We do not have to try and navigate this life on our own. Our God does not forsake His children. There will be seasons of hardship and tribulation. No one is immune. God promises to be with us through every season, through the valleys, as well as on the mountaintops. The one thing He cannot do is lie. We can hold tight to His promises as we wait, pray, and trust that joy comes in the morning. It may take longer than we would like but, in the waiting, be still and pay attention. Listen for the still small voice of God. He has things He wants to tell us. There are lessons He wants us to learn. Most of all, He wants us to trust Him, to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us beyond anything we can imagine. Thank you for not only saving us but sustaining and strengthening us to face the challenges of this life. Thank you for providing for our every need. Your grace is truly sufficient. No matter the season we find ourselves in or the difficulties that our loved ones are walking through, may we never forget that you are with us, and you have not forgotten us. You hear our prayers, and we trust that you will answer them. We will live by faith and testify to your goodness even in the waiting! In Jesus’ Mighty, Matchless Name, Amen, and Amen!
(Psalm 27:13-14 NIV) I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
