December 24, 2014

I have been thinking about how easy it is to say that we trust and believe in God when things are smooth and good. We say that we trust Him and He is Lord, but in reality, we are often in the driver's seat, basically wanting God to ride "shotgun" and watch our back to protect us. When we hit a rough patch, we can feel (there's that word again) that God has somehow let us down, didn't keep up His end of the deal. That is so backwards - it's as if we view ourselves as being on equal footing with God and even though He made a mistake and took us down the wrong road, we will begrudgingly go along with it. We would never say that's what we are doing - but in all honesty, we can think it.

Instead of kicking and screaming and second-guessing the path that we are unexpectedly on, I woke up today wondering who else will be on this path. Who will we meet at the West Clinic. If I truly believe that God gives us divine appointments, I want to look ahead with expectancy, watching for those encounters that I would never have unless I was on THIS path. Believing that He is with us, He is aware, He is not surprised.

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV)