Okay, we all know it: Things don't always turn out the way we planned for them to. But as Chip talked about in our latest discussion, that's not exactly a bad thing. In fact, sometimes it's a better thing than we may ever realize.
This past Tuesday Chip led a discussion on how our decisions affect our experiences long term, in ways we wouldn't normally expect. He started off with descriptions of some of the people he knew while growing up who always had money or things than he did, who seemed to be set for their futures. These people, while they were given everything they might want, never had to make a serious decision affecting their futures, whether it was school or careers or anything else. As a result, years later they had become basically incapable of making responsible, self-sustaining decisions, and their lives were at a standstill. Unfortunately, it's a common occurrence; many people could think of someone in a similar situation.
Chip noted a particularly relevant quote from Pastor King, "Experience is not a great teacher; God is." He went on to explain that experience would teach us to be distrustful of people and of the unknown, especially the future. But God is all about trust, especially concerning the future. Chip pointed out how we tend to start down a path we've determined that we're supposed to be on (which is a good thing, as we found out at the last discussion), and sometimes -- or, a lot of times -- things don't turn out the way we expect them to, or we don't seem to be going in the direction we think we should be. But that doesn't at all mean that God has lost control of the situation, or that we are not in His will. Apparently that's the point of God knowing His entire plan for us when we don't. (Shocking, I know.)
We looked at the story of Isaac and Rebekah in the second half of Genesis 25. The Bible says that Rebekah couldn't have have children, so Isaac prayed to God for Rebekah to be able to have children, and God answered and Rebekah gave birth to twins. However, Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (v. 20), but he was 60 when Rebekah give birth to Esau and Jacob (v. 26). He had to wait 20 years to have children. He could have given up on God at any moment during that 20 years, but he didn't, and God did grant his request. He could have thought that he had been wrong to want a child, and that he was never going to have one, but instead he continued to believe the promise that God had made to his father Abraham. God was, and is, still in control; He kept His promise.
We also looked at Joseph's story (Genesis 37... 45). Joseph had this dream that someday he was going to be so great that his whole family was going to bow and defer to him. He was so excited he even went and told his brothers, who obviously were not amused, or even tolerant. (Lesson 1: Know-it-alls are not popular!) His outspokenness almost got him killed, and it did get him taken away from his home enslaved, and then eventually put in jail. He had every chance, and even right, to become angry and bitter about the direction his life had taken. But again, Joseph didn't give up on the dream, and in the end God proved that the lows were a set up to the ultimate high; the fulfillment of Joseph's dreams, literally and figuratively.
As Chip mentioned, the paths that God has for will include difficult parts, and if we knew everything all at once, fear of the bad would probably overwhelm our ability to accomplish anything. That's why we have to trust God that we're where we supposed to be, even when it doesn't look like -- especially when it doesn't look like it. Because, really, if we knew exactly how the path for our life turns out, how many of us would have still taken that path? And who knows what would have happened to any of us if we had actually fulfilled our paths in the way we thought we were. (All very philosophical questions, I know, but stick with me here.) The point is, God doesn't plan evil or even merely okay outcomes for us. His plans for us are always not just good, but more awesome than we can ever imagine. So as long as we're trusting Him to lead us, we can also trust that anything less than that is not going to be the permanent or ultimate end for our lives.
Summary time!
-- Your decision to start down one path or another really does affect your life, but not always in the way you might expect.
-- Your path often won't look like you would have expected when you started on it -- but don't give up!
-- God is still and always in control of His plan for your life -- again, don't give up!
-- You don't have to try to accomplish God's plan on your own; you don't even know God's whole plan!
-- As long as you trust God, He will lead you the way you're supposed to go, no matter what that direction is. And His way is awesome.
The fact is, you can look forward to a challenge or unexpected chapter in your life when you realize that you're not doing it alone: God is not only there with you, but there with you to lead you every step of the way. At least one of us knows where we're going and how we're supposed to get there.
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I loved this past week's discussion! I think we all have times where we can over-complicate things in life. We try to guess what God would want for us instead of following what he's obviously showing us about ourselves. I think that life is an adventure, and God created us so that he could love us and be with us on our journey. So, when we feel like we've messed up, or that we wish we could go back and change something in the past, we have to remember that God already knew we were going to "mess up" and he knows the solution. But what if that mess up was all part of his plan to teach us something along the way? Everything with God happens for a reason, so we just have to step back and enjoy the life he's given us and try to find the light in everything. (I sound like such a hippie. oh well.)
Brooke is a hippie. She also touched on something that is important to remember. All things really do work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. What a relief it is to realize that if your heart is truly seeking God and you are truly serving him, then it is going to be okay. Everything is going to be ok. That is a huge relief for me. Someone was interviewing Mel Gibson and asked him why he was a Christian. He responded by saying "Because no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay." What if we started taking that attitude with everything we attempted? I want to. When God is leading us to be a bold witness why don't we step out, oppose to worrying about someone hearing us. What about when we hear from God to change jobs? Do we hesitate, or do we take action and be obedient? I am having to continue to stand for some things I have been hoping to have for years. As time passes, I realize I was not ready for some of the things I was hoping for to begin with. I can't stop or waver. No matter what I see in the present, I can't stop. The present is subject to change. Life can change for the better in the blink of an eye. I have to keep believing that.If I mess up, that is ok, because as Brooke said, God already knew it and he knows the solution.
Just to warn everyone: I got a little carried away so pull up a chair and settle in for a good read. I was so pumped after reading Alicia's summary of our last discussion. It was really good while listening to it in person but it seemed even better when reading her notes. I like what Brooke and Chip both said and just want to add my own two cents. One of the things that I absolutely loved from our discussion is the story of Joseph. Like Chip, I’m doing the Bible in one year thing and read that account the other day. Even though I’ve heard the story countless times over the years, when I read it this last time, something stood out to me that I hadn’t noticed before. When Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt in search of food due to the famine, they don’t recognize Joseph because it’s been about twenty years (right?) since they sold him into slavery. After the whole family reunion thing and Jacob comes down to see his son before he dies, Joseph’s brothers are afraid that he will seek revenge for what happened to him. But Joseph, being the wise person he is, tells them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20). Joseph knew that everything he endured had to happen in order for those dreams he spoke of to his brothers so many years ago to come to pass. He wasn’t bitter for missing out on being with his family, he recognized that God was setting things up to ultimately put him in the position to save his family’s life when the famine came. I just think that’s such a testimony to God working in ways that we don’t always understand but are always for our good. I’m reading a book called “Two Days,” by Beth Lueders and it’s so great. The title for the book comes from when Mary and Martha informed Jesus that Lazarus was sick. Instead of rushing to his friend’s side, Jesus chose to stay where he was for two more days. By the time he reached Mary and Martha, Lazarus had already died and everyone was mourning their loss. I like how the author puts it: “Lazarus died. Yet even though the Son of God tarried by the Jordan, Lazarus’s last breath did not escape Jesus’s notice. No relative called the Messiah on his cell phone to inform him of his close comrade’s death. No obituary e-mail zipped out to update Jesus along the riverside.” Even when we think that God has forgotten about us when we cry out to Him for answers, He’s still there, working things out in ways that would amaze us if we only knew. And as the story goes, Jesus ended up raising Lazarus from the dead, performing a miracle that was proof of His deity. More than likely, Mary and Martha thought Jesus had forgotten them and didn’t care about them or Lazarus. But Jesus saw it all; He just had a different way of answering them than they would have liked. I could go on and on about this book and the other things it points out but I’ll save it for our next meeting. I think we sometimes try to tell God what to do. We pray with such specific parameters that we don’t give God any wiggle room to answer us. We tell Him what we want and when we want it. And then get mad when He doesn’t respond according to our specifications. I’m just as guilty as the next person for doing this and I think we just need to let go. We need to put our trust in God that what He has for us is nothing but wonderful; easier said than done, I know. But the cool thing is that when we do let go, God can have the freedom to work in our lives, blessing us beyond our wildest imaginations. And sometimes, like Aaron said, it’s as though we’re sitting in a recliner and God’s beside us saying, “Would you like some more chips and dip?” (did I quote that right?). Waiting can be one of the hardest things to do. But it’s through that waiting that we learn to rely on God for the strength to wait and develop the trust to know it’ll be ok.
Wow Amber! I know those are my notes on the discussion, but you totally just preached it to me all over again. That was awesome!
Especially that last line, about learning "to rely on God for the strength to wait and develop the trust to know it’ll be ok." That is exactly as what I've been struggling with, as I have a milestone birthday drawing near. So many times lately I've been ready to give up on my hopes and dreams because I don't seem to be any closer to achieving them than I was years ago. But as one of my friends reminded me (alright, it was Kevin), it's like a child growing up. I may not see the changes because I look at myself every day, but those who aren't around me 24/7 can see the differences much more clearly. And God can see me grow in ways I may never notice. So I have to trust that I really am making progress and He really is moving me into the destiny that satisfies my heart and soul, whether I know what it is or can see it or not.
It's great to know that we can rely on God for anything and everything! At times we get blinded by what's going on in our life that we think is so much bigger than everything else... and sometimes it takes a big smack in the face to get you to realise... hey, it's going to be okay. God has it all under control. I can understand what Alicia means by wanting to just give up cause it seems life is just sucking you backwards at 90 mph. I've been there... for a year I lived in those conditions. You just have to believe and trust in God that he'll be there and guide your every step. I'm so thankful for that! God bless all of you!
...and brooke is such a hippie!
Ok, I couldn’t wait until Tues. to share this. I just finished reading the book I talked about (and it’s called “Two Days Longer” not “Two Days” like I had thought) and it’s seriously one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was so encouraging and helped me see how waiting shapes us and stretches us. I had to share one thing with ya’ll and I hope it touches you like it did me. It’s from the last page of the book and it’s one of those things where you just go, “Wow.”
“When fortunes change and disappointments shake us, when dreams are delayed – maybe even derailed forever – it’s crucial to remember that we still have God. The God who…
Sees when we stumble blindly.
Embraces us with compassion.
Loves us even when we’re a long way off.
Gives us strong shoes for the stony paths of waiting.
Lifts us gently when we are cast down.
Fills our empty hands with gifts of tender mercy.
Understands everything even when we’re clueless.
Extends patience even when we grumble.
Settles us with His perfect peace.
Comforts us just by being there.
Controls all of life’s details.
Proves completely trustworthy.
Works behind the scenes, transforming delays into something good."
Alicia and I were talking the other night at the youth rally and to make a long story short, we ended up praying for each other. As she was praying for me, she asked God to give me “beautiful surprises” and I absolutely loved that! That’s what God has for all us – beautiful surprises. We may not understand why we’re waiting, why we feel like God’s not listening anymore but He is and He’s preparing beautiful surprises for all us.
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