God Problems

“No matter how badly we may want to put something back together, sometimes God is the only one who has the glue.”

I was brought to this realization last night in a dream. Sometimes you really do reach the “after you’ve done all you can” point when it comes to certain things. That point where words no longer matter and actions lose all effectiveness. This is what we call a “God Problem.” It is one that we have neither the expertise nor the tools to fix. But in God’s eyes, what better predicament to find yourself in? Matthew 11:28-29 (AMP) says:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.”

God LOVES to pick up where we leave off as it gives us every opportunity to jumpstart or revitalize our relationship with Him. As I was reading this verse, He said to me, “Just get on my page and all of your solutions will meet you there.” There’s a freedom and a lightening of the load that comes along with trading the issues that plague the mind for God’s load. Give God the “stuff” and focus on getting into Him and who He is (as He says in the scripture, “Learn of Me”). It also gives Him the chance to use His state of the art tools and showcase His flawless workmanship with regard to life’s problems. He has within Him the ability to direct hearts, [re]unite people, achieve the impossible, perfectly time our placement with the right opportunities, defy all odds, etc. He orders our lives and their contents with such precision…all He wants us to do is be willing to trade it all for a closer walk with Him…

Last Minute Thoughts...

I recently rekindled my efforts to read through the Bible in chronological order and I just finished reading in Genesis 22 about Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac. I’ve heard the story numerous times in Sunday School and over the pulpit, but this time the importance of sacrifice was emphasized in my mind…and how much God appreciates it. Whenever sacrifice is involved between me and God, its often to see where my heart is. Philippians 3:7-8 (AMP) says:

“But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One)…”

Right there is where He wants it…the deepest parts of our hearts reserved for only Him at all times. With a Heavenly Father who desires such an intimate dwelling with us, it makes me wonder how, on our end, it seems so much easier to hold back from Him. In any relationship, the ability to let go is the primary draw. But in this case, whatever we could “let go” is being released into the most capable hands. Author C.S. Lewis said it best: “When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.” Whatever He asks us to give up, He always gives it back better His way and in His time.

Anything I can lay before Him is nothing compared to His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross. For that, I'll forever be grateful...with my whole heart.

If Trusting God Came With Instructions...

I was listening to Joyce Meyer one morning this week and she encouraged everyone to find out what God is really dealing with them on and dedicate themselves to working on it and getting to the other side of it. Mine is trusting God. It’s like I’ve got this baseline trust, but not being totally informed tends to be a source of contention. For this reason, many of us believers tend to be “Indian givers” with our lives [when it comes to God]. We put them in His hands, but continue to attend to them and, in some cases, take them back when we do not understand what He is doing. While reflecting on her suggestion, I thought to myself that if trusting God was as simple as following step-by-step instructions, most of us would follow them to a “T.” Then it dawned on me that the Word actually does instruct us. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) says:

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”

In essence, we must remove ourselves from the equation and give God full custody of every component of our lives. Coupled with faith, trust is the proverbial “shortest distance between two points”…us and God. EVERYTHING must be surrendered, including our preconceived notions, our timetables, our specifications, our plans, etc. But ultimately, it’s really not about trusting Him for the stuff being handed over…it’s about becoming more acquainted with the One you are handing it to.

It is who God is that makes trusting Him a win-win situation. This world belongs to Him and everything in it is subject to His authority. He runs the show, yet He has a vested interest in those of us who have a desire to live for Him. At the core of every move He makes is an unparalleled love for us. Each of our lives is like His factory, each product manufactured reflecting His glory, durability withstanding. Only He knows the inputs and process flows necessary to produce the optimal results…all He asks is that we seek to know Him and pursue His ways (Matt. 6:33). His character is one that must be experienced as it is too comprehensive to relay. But if we follow His instructions exactly, we will find that He is most definitely One that we can “lean on, trust in, and be confident in” with all of our hearts and minds.