American Idol.
That’s our Sunday series right now.
And I’ve pounded away at idols while I’ve taught on Hosea.
Yesterday Bill talked about “me first.”
The idol of I.
Serving or being served.
Having it my way.
In my time.
It’s all about me, you know.
We even name stuff after ourselves like iPads and iPhones
(Did you ever notice that idol begins with the letter I?)
But I’m a little distracted.
Because her question still ricochets around my head.
What if the answer is never?
Not now.
Not ever.
Never.
Will I ever not worry about my kids or grandkids?
Will I ever be able to complete a novel?
Will I ever have a book contract?
Will I ever visit the Holy Land?
Will I ever go to Africa?
Will I ever meet my Compassion child?
Will I ever go on another mission trip?
Will I ever go on any kind of vacation without concern about what’s happening at home?
Speaking of home, will I ever have a totally clean, well decorated, organized house?
New would be nice, too.
Will I ever lose this weight?
Will I ever not fret about every dollar spent?
Will I ever realize my dreams?
Will I ever be free of the little stuff that drives me crazy?
Will I ever wake up in the morning without a jumble in my brain and a to-do list long enough to trip over?
Will I ever have me some me time without feeling like I need permission from others?
Will I ever catch a break?
What if the answer is no?
Not now.
Not ever.
Never.
Will I still seek His beauty?
Gasp at His colors?
Rest in His arms?
Because really, doesn’t He allow this stuff to drive me there?
Into Him?
To conform me to His image?
What if the answer is never?
What if life falls apart big time (again)?
Will I, like Paul, toss my chains in the dust and not look back?
Will I stay focused on the goal?
Will I bend beneath the weight of His wind of love and mercy and allow any afflictions to be eclipsed by His glory?
Will I take my eyes off myself?
Will I choose to believe His extravagant love no matter what?
Will I still trust Him?
Will I still praise Him?
What if you never catch a break in your chaotic and turbulent and messy life?
Or what if it’s just the little stuff that mounts up and brings you down?
Will you still trust Him?
Will you still praise Him?
Will you remember how much He loves you?
What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. ~Acts 20:24 (Message)
Trusting and praising with Michelle.
The last few years His message to me has been quite loud:
“It is NOT about you”
I loved this post – hard truth..
Yes. Hard. It’s hard enough when we want things that obviously aren’t good for us. But good things from our perspective?
These are hard questions, ones I ask myself more frequently than I’d like to admit. People are quick to say, “Everything will work out,” but that don’t really know that. And, if things don’t work out, if God gives the gift of loss, disappointment or death, will I still say He is good? I like to believe that the answer is yes. I often say that God doesn’t give theoretical grace; He provides the grace we need for the circumstances He brings.
He does work everything for good–for those who love Him. But His idea of good may not match ours. Grace we need for the circumstances He brings–I like that. Thanks, Nancy.
Will He ever leave us or forsake us … in the nevers … not, no ever!
I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not!] ~Hebrews 13:5b (Amplified)
i had a time when God said a very clear NO to me..it hurt, but wonderful things have come from the no. it’s hard to accept though!
great post!
I’ve had that happen a few times, Esther. It does hurt. A lot. But His ways are so much better. Sometimes it takes a long time to see it, though. Thanks for coming by.
Yes, I will, prayerfully. But I can’t do it on my own.
Paul the Apostle stated that he had learned to be content in all situations. Whether abased or abound. I believe that the secret to his contentment was found in his statement “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
We often quote that Scripture out of context or to serve our own purposes. I think that Paul was clearly acknowledging that his ability to retain joy, rejoice, etc. came directly through Christ. And just Paul our true strength, as believers, comes as a result of our realization that we can do nothing apart from Christ.
That includes being content even when things don’t go our way or God’s answer to our prayers is “no.”
I don’t have the ability to graciously receive disappointments, pain, misunderstandings, etc. on a constant basis. It takes the power of God working in me to help me hold on to hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
I’m so glad we serve a 24/7 God. He’s faithful to help us even with the things we don’t fully understand.
We can do nothing without His infusion of strength.
And I’m not sure He strengthens us to do things not in His plan, but He strengthens us to overcome our disappointments over things that don’t go our way.
this was beautiful. and very relevant for me right now. the challenge is to not let “never” change my thoughts about God, or how i believe He views & loves me.
Keeping our hearts and minds fixed above. It’s a challenge.
Though the fig trees fail to blossom, let my cry be yet will I praise Him.
Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him.
Very good question. One that needs to be kept in the front of our minds as we fly through our to do lists and basically our lives, wishing for the better tomorrow. I can testify that good does come from bad, but the process hurts. The hurt drives us closer to Him, as you have so beautifully stated. Great post. Wonderful questions and thoughts to ponder, to meditate…
You’ve lived this . . .
A big question, Sandra. It reminds me of Ann Voskamp’s hard eucharisteo — isn’t that what she asks, really? Will we still accept loss, grief, disappointment as a gift? It sounds really good, doesn’t it? But it’s hard, so hard. I guess that’s why He holds our hand — we can’t do it alone.
So hard. This is why we need to know Him so, so well before we face the hard times so we learn to trust and then can lean–or let Him carry.