Been thinking about the purposes of God… Was listening to a sermon (Mars Hill Bible church, of course) that got me thinking about how the Lord always creates with a purpose. I suppose my stubborn and somewhat rebellious nature is no surprise to God; nor is my teeny-tiny faith. Somehow – lovingly- the Lord foresaw that, and it can fit into His plan. Maybe the Lord even PLANNED that I be like this- isn’t that an interesting thought?- knowing what the consequences would be. I am shaped as much by what I go through as I am by what I am… If that makes any sense.

One of the hardest things in the Christian walk must be to accept the goodness of God’s will, no matter what. Sometimes I think when I am in the middle of a hard season- which seems to me to be pretty often- it’s easier to believe the Lord has lost the plot… But it’s true, isn’t it, that if God allows it, it is allowed justly, and has a purpose. He commands us not to be afraid, even if the enemy arrayed against us is more than our resources could possibly deal with.

Deu 20:1 When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots, a people more than you, do not be afraid of them. For Jehovah your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

The most amazing and inexplicable thing about the Christian faith is that darkness seems not to destroy, but to reveal new grace, true light, and a higher faith, if we would only keep our eyes on Christ, and hold onto our trust in the Lord’s purposes. I was feeling so low recently, considering all the hard things I am up against; but even in this I think about the Lord’s purposes, and feel so grateful and confident that all is fitting into a greater plan. I am making this the bedrock of my faith: the Lord is good, the Lord is in control. (And I keep telling myself this, and see the fruit of that faith even though it is so weak; the Lord must be adding to it to produce something).

The Lord has delivered me before, out of great trials; and if it suits His purposes now, He will deliver me again. He goes with me.

Deu 20:4 For Jehovah your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

And yet if He doesn’t, I can still choose to trust in His love, that there is a higher way than the way I would choose. If what happens to me- whatever it is- has the sanction of God, then it must be a good thing. As someone once said, it has come through the filter of His love. And one can choose to believe that, and that resources are given exactly when needed. I suppose one can say that’s what faith is about.

Isa 40:29 He gives power to the weary; and to him with no vigor; He increases strength.