“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”
Psalm 86:12 (NIV)
Last time we were together I spoke about how hard Monday was this week and how God showed me all week long that He is there for me. It’s now Friday and while nothing’s changed regarding my circumstances, a lot has changed. And that is my attitude toward the situation.
I’m back to remembering God’s promises. I’m back to remembering the truths that God does provide, He does protect, He does heal, He does take care of all our needs. I’m back to remembering that what God did for all the people in the Bible, He still does today to people like you and me. God does not play favorites. When I choose to give Him my life, when I choose to let Him have control, He shows up and He does wonderful things.
Do I wish that He had changed the circumstances already? Kind of… but I’m in a place of trusting that He’s working even if I can’t see the progress. I’m content to wait for His timetable. I’m focused on the blessings I do have and taking pleasure in the little things.
Do I still believe God will do great things? Yes. Do I believe God has more blessings for our family and is working to change our situation? Yes. Better yet, though, I believe that He’s doing that same thing for those around me. The people whom I love and even those I’ve never met who are struggling with their own circumstances.
Do I believe God wants to help the lady on Facebook who feels as though this is the only way life is going to be for her? Absolutely. But as I’ve spoken about many times throughout the last few posts… it all starts with a choice. The first choice is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ where we give up control and let Him have the driver’s seat. The second choice is to live with the perspective of faith. The third step is to trust that God is working, even when we can’t see it. And the fourth and hardest step is to maintain an attitude of gratitude – believing, truly believing that God wants the best for our lives and is moving us toward that when we let Him.
Does that mean God wants an easy life for us? Quite the contrary. The best and easy usually don’t blend in the same sentence when God is involved. Easy doesn’t require faith. But, the best, despite not being easy, can be the most exhilarating adventure one has ever taken. And seriously, when I’m on my deathbed, I don’t want to look back on my life and say, “Wow, I led a very easy life. Nothing too terrible happened but nothing terrific happened either. I just woke up and went to sleep day in and day out.” I want my life to mean something – to the One I serve, in the lives of those I love, in the passion I have for ministry and activities and living. When I choose to trust God and let Him lead, it will be far from easy, of that I’m guaranteed, but I also think I will be able to say, “That was a life I would definitely live again.”
© Cheri Swalwell 2018