February  2006

When God does not make sense

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls —
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Habakkuk 3:17-18

When life takes us thru rosy paths, when we could see the goodness of God in our life, when things go smooth and comfortable, our heart rejoices in the Lord and sings praises to Him and we acknowledge that He is a God of love who cares for His children. But when life's road takes a sharp turn to a rocky path where you jus can't stand, when things happen in such a way that we feel like a wave tossed in the ocean, how do we react?

Honestly, my friend, it is difficult for me to understand why sometimes God takes us thru difficult times. I really do not have an answer to the question "Why does God allow certain things to happen in our lives by which our heart is broken, we lose our peace and our head is just tossed, battling with confusion?". Though I don't have an answer to this question, there's two things I am sure of,

1. God is still in control
2. His grace is sufficient for us

He knows what is best for our lives. Maybe we still have to wait a little longer for Him to complete His plan for us regarding the thing we're worried about. So, let's give God His time and not push our way into His plan, 'cos if we do we may end up messing it up. God's time is always the right time. We may not be able to see all that He's planned for us at one shot. But He always shows us clearly what the next step should be. He is a God who shows you His plan one step at a time.

The author of the book of Psalms in the bible says in Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp to my feet". Have you ever tried tying a torch to your feet and walking? If you did, you'd be able to see the light for jus the next step. The Psalmist never said that God's Word is a "headlight" which can shine to a great distance and show you "all" that God has planned for you. But he clearly says that God and His Word can show you just one step at a time.

Yes, sometimes God's ways just can't be comprehended by our limited human brains. Sometimes God Does Not Make Sense, because we just can't read His mind. At such moments we need to surrender our lives to Him and learn to wait on Him, for the bible says that "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength", meaning that God will strengthen us back from our wounded weary situation, He will raise us up from our difficult times in His perfect time. We will never be bogged down with our worries and fears all our lives. God will raise us up in due time.

So, let me encourage you on this day, my friend, to wait on the Lord. Give Him the time He needs to complete His work in you. And as we wait let's ask Him for His grace to sustain us thru the difficult times and the waiting period.

May the Lord help us to acknowledge that He Is Still In Control of our life even when He does not make sense, 'cos when He is thru with the work He's done on us, then we will know that He DID Make Sense in taking us thru those tough times !!!

Have a blessed day!!!

Your friend,
Eshcol