Don't Second-Guess God

 

By Andrea Merrell

As for God, His way is perfect. Psalm 18:30 NIV

“Give your burden to God,” the pastor said. “Lay it at His feet and walk away empty-handed. Trust Him for the answer.”

I did what he said. It lasted about ten minutes. I picked my burden back up and continued to carry it. The worst part is that I gave the Lord several suggestions on how to fix the problem. I’m sure He was grateful for my sage advice (😊) but said, “I’ve got this … if you’ll let go.”

Why is it that we think we’re smarter and wiser than the God of the universe? The Creator of heaven and earth? The all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God?

Paul says it best in Romans 9:20-21 (MSG):

Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?

There are so many things in this world we will never understand until we see the Lord face-to-face. And I imagine when we do, all those trivial matters we worried about, struggled with, and tried to fix will become meaningless in the light of His glory.

Don’t be guilty of second-guessing God. Give up the right to understand His ways—which are so much higher than ours—and learn to trust Him for the outcome. He is the answer to every question and the solution to every problem.

As the psalmist David said, “As for God, His way is perfect.”

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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This Too Shall Pass

By Andrea Merrell

Ever have so many problems you feel as if you won’t make it through another day? I’ve had many of those moments, especially within the past year, and have found myself saying, “This too shall pass.”

We all know trials are part of this earthly existence. They come with the package. But our response to them can many times determine the length and severity. Keeping our focus on the Lord instead of the problem is the biggest key.

Our burdens may seem to linger with no end in sight, but they all have a shelf life. Situations and circumstances I once thought would never change have been transformed by God’s miraculous, loving hand. With Him all things are truly possible. In fact, God calls those heavy burdens “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV). The verse goes on to say that these troubles are gaining for us “an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” I love the way the Message puts it in verses 16-18:

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

I’ve learned that when the storms of life rage all around me and the darkness closes in, my hope is renewed as I look to the One who loves me, is always with me, and cares about everything that concerns me. With one single word, He can calm the storm and cause the light to break through. Even if the storm continues to rage, He fills me with His peace and gives me a new, godly perspective.

If you’re experiencing a trial that is threatening to take you under, don’t give up. Be still and listen for His voice. He is saying to you, “Hold tightly to my hand, my child. This too shall pass.”

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles. )

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When the Pressure Gets Too Great

By Andrea Merrell

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you 

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

I felt like I was going down for the third time, overwhelmed by circumstances far beyond my control. If one more thing was thrown at me, I would surely go under.

Do you ever feel as if you’ll never hold up under the burdens you carry? We face pressure is so many ways. It might be excruciating pain in our body, a lack of finances, or a failed relationship. We agonize over prodigal children, work-related issues, and addictive behavior. The Bible calls these the “cares of this life.”

Spiritual battles are tough. The Enemy cranks up the pressure, hoping to wipe us out. What he fails to realize is that God uses the pressure to develop us, not destroy us

The truth about pressure is it’s not always a bad thing. Great wine comes from crushing the carefully tended grapes. And diamonds are formed by that same crushing force. Even a pressure cooker produces a variety of delicious foods.

When the apostle Paul couldn't take it anymore, he cried out to God for help. God's answer? "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9 TM).

Paul's response? "It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take my limitations in stride and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size: abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over. And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become" (v.v. 9-10 TM).

Sometimes, the pressure we experience will transform our thinking, help us see people and situations in a new light, or move us from one place to another. The key is in not facing it alone. Jesus tells us to come to Him when we’re weary so we can find rest. The Message says He will teach us the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

The Lord came to my rescue, and He'll do the same for you. If you're in a spiritual battle, cry out to Him and allow His grace to pull you through. He'll give you everything you need ... peace, strength, comfort, wisdom, and direction. When the pressure gets too great, let Jesus take over. Your faith will grow, and you'll come out victorious.

Are you weary? Reach out to Jesus. He’s waiting for you.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and digitalart.)

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