An easier way?

Beth Moore asks in her Believing God study at one point about the trails and humiliation that she knows God has not only walked her through but led her into: “Couldn’t there have been an easier way?”

She responds with:

Finally and sadly, I accepted the answer: apparently not. My God loves me too much not to have chosen another way if it would have sufficed. (p191)

Her question and answer reshapes our perspective on God’s hand in our lives. Because He is all-knowing and and all-loving, we must believe in faith that whatever He allows, He also intends. In all the manifold wisdom of God, we should be confident that our hurts, humiliations, setbacks and sufferings are the only way to achieve His purpose.

He is able to consider 1000 options at once, and no matter how painful or agonizing your current experience, it is the way that He will bring you to Himself and to grace while demonstrating His love and glory.

Consider again for a moment that Jesus Himself in His humanity also experienced this one wayness:

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22.41-42)

If Jesus submitted in trust and love to the Father’s plan, we should too. He loves us. He has considered other options. Where you are is the way He has chosen. Cling to Him.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1.6-7)

On this day...

• Ode to Steve - 2011
• How to listen to a sermon - 2007
• Belated Blog Appreciation Day... - 2006
• Aaaah... I'm famous... for 5 minutes - 2006