There comes a time in your life when what you've been preaching must be practiced in a very real way, when a concept changes from philosophy to practice. I don't mean that I haven't been practicing what I've been writing. Most of the stuff I put on here is not just a sitting down and playing an intellectual "game;" it doesn't just originate in my head. In other words, I'm not just looking at how I think someone else ought to respond if I were in such a circumstance, but I am most often the one in the middle of it and I'm preaching to myself. A Scripture passage that is meaning a lot to me right now is found in Job 23:10-17, which says:
(10) "But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (11) "My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.(12) "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. (13) "But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. (14) "For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such decrees are with Him.
(15) "Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence; when I consider, I am terrified of Him. (16) "It is God who has made my heart faint, and the Almighty who has dismayed me, (17) but I am not silenced by the darkness, nor deep gloom which covers me."
Despite all of Job's righteousness (that is, his valuing supremely the Supremely Valuable), a holy and good God had seen fit to inflict on Job suffering that none of us can comprehend. Job recognizes God's sovereignty especially in vv. 13-14 and 16. Even this suffering was not outside God's control, and whatever He desires, He does. In that, I cease my anxiousness and rest. Though weeping may last for the night, yet a shout of joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) This is true. I have no cause for doubting, no cause for worry or for fear. For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. (II Cor. 1:20) So instead of moping or beating myself up, I may, with newfound strength, rise in the joy of the Lord. Isn't it funny that in the midst of our suffering or frustrated plans or disappointed expectations we think it's the end of the world, and that God can't meet the deepest needs in our hearts? He holds me in His hands, and I'm actually very excited that He has led me down the path He has ordered for me, so on Monday morning, God will not let me out of His grip. He has indeed captured me, and all I can say is that I would never wish to be anywhere else. Just some thoughts.
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