In order to run efficiently and with purpose, most organizations have processes by which business is conducted. We don’t always understand the why or what what into the devlopment of these processes. But I was reminded on a couple of occasions this week that God has His own process for our lives.
Our local Christian radio station hosted an event with Jason Gray this week and had him on the air for some interviews. They played one of songs, Remind Me You’re Here.
None of my pain has ever caught You by surprise
Still it’s hard to trust You when I’m lost in the wondering why
But I’ll trade every question just to lay down and rest in Your heart
And I’ll reach for Your hand, though You led me here into the dark
And I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Father, remind me You’re here
As we walk through the blessings and trials of life, which can actually go hand in hand, I too want to know at times when will this end, when will the pain or struggles stop. But yet its God that is active in our lives, He’s the one who dictates and allows our circumstances to unfold the way they do and we can rest in that. It’s us who choose our actions and our reactions in these circumstances.
In Jeremiah 29 God promises good things for Israel, they are in exile and bondage, yet God is still working things for their good in their life. God knows what they are going to go through and he tells them to carry on with life, prospering in the city where He has put them. Then He promises after a time He will fulfill His promise.
God allowed Joseph to be beat up by his brothers, sold into slavery and eventually become great in the land of Egypt. If he wouldn’t have been sold into slavery he might not have ended up in Egypt, where he eventually saved his family from the famine.
And today, being reminded that Paul was ship wrecked, stoned, hungered along with other things, he even asked for his thorn to be removed and was denied his request. Yet through it all Paul had God’s peace with him, Paul knew the prize at the end. And through it all he learned and realized that through any circumstance it would be God’s strength that would help him endure through it.
Jesus had His own process and plan to follow. It was so agonizing that He sweat drops of blood and had to have angels come and strengthen him to endure through the process.
It is hard to trust in the circumstances at times, but having God’s peace surround you in the circumstances can be incredibly awesome, beyond words. We have to just rely on God’s process and promises that He is working for our good, but we have to continually have that fellowship with Him. In the garden when Jesus was sweating drops of blood He was praying, in God’s presence being prepared for the task at hand. No human could endure what Jesus went through and that’s where we can receive God’ Spirit and joy and peace, knowing that Jesus endured what He did so we too could have fellowship with God, because He loves us and desires that fellowship with us.
We’ll face troubles in this life, we just have to have the continual fellowship with Jesus and trust in God’s process for each of our lives, as unique or similar they are, God doesn’t have to give us answers, but be assured God will walk with you through the circumstances He directs for you. In those times of trouble stop and lean on the Creator of the universe, the One who directs yours steps and the One who loves you so much He sent His most prized possession to live a sinless life yet take our sins upon His shoulders so we could live life with Him in eternity.
Jason Gray – Remind Me You’re Here
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