Some Encouraging Thoughts

I wanted to share with you a quote that I ran across as I was preparing this week's encouraging moment with you. I hope you don't mind that I am quoting someone else, but this is a perfect lead into what I would like for us to think about this week:

"Trouble is like a pebble. Hold it close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more bump on the pathway to life."(Celia Luce)

Remember the story of Lazarus? Lazarus and Jesus were close friends. Lazarus became sick, and immediately Martha and Mary (his sisters) notified Jesus. They called for him to come to their house. However, he didn't respond to their request immediately. Lazarus then died. Can you imagine how disappointed Mary and Martha were? No one had a clue how Christ would intervene in these circumstances, but Jesus knew exactly what he was going to do. He had a plan.

What was true so many years ago, is also true today. God's higher purpose often exceeds our need for immediate help out of our circumstances. We are sometimes forced to live in the middle of a trial and face the pain of that trial until God steps in with a miracle. We think we know what we need, but God knows what's best for us. Often, people want God to do their will for him instead of allowing God to do His will for them. Often we respond to trouble by asking God to immediately deliver us from it. Paul wanted deliverance from his problem, but he did know that in Christ, grace was sufficient for him and Christ's strength was made perfect thru his weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead. We need to trust Jesus even when things don't happen as we think they should and never give up. God always has a higher purpose He is willing to work in our lives. Though we don't always understand his timing (like Mary and Martha probably didn't), we know that his ways are perfect.

As we continue to plan for our event, if things don't happen in our timing, sit back and wait. Wait on the Lord to work a miracle. And rely on his strength thru our weaknesses.