I don’t know about you, but I’m looking for answers on a number of things. I have a tendency to ponder the way some things are, to question why they have to be a certain way, wonder what role God needs me to play in a given situation, etc.
And I think that’s a totally human thing to do. It’s not wrong, we just like to search out a matter. Perhaps that’s why Ecclesiastes references putting eternity in the hearts of men. We love to ponder the mystery, the adventure that we call life.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11
Hindsight is 20/20
In many cases, hindsight is 20/20. Give a situation time and you can often discover what the purpose of it was. Lessons that could only be learned through experience, consequences for decisions made, etc.
It is especially wonderful to know that when we give our all to God – our best, our hearts, do our work unto Him, etc – that He will work all things together for our good. All things – not most, or even just many of them but ALL! When we commit 100% to Him, He works 100% out for our good! That knowledge is so good to hold and remember as we walk through difficult times. Just knowing of His unfailing love and mercy is comforting!
I remember a particularly difficult time that left me looking for answers as to how the situation began to add up, but the one thing I could hold fast to was the knowledge that God worked things together for my good. Now it certainly didn’t feel good at the time, and yet I knew God’s Word is true. I would pray and ask God to help me see things from His perspective because I knew He was faithful.
It took time, but I absolutely see now what He was doing: protecting and guiding me. There was definitely some testing going on too. But through it all, I was seeking Him, asking for direction, looking for answers. And He answered!
Understanding God
One of the most important things we can learn to do is understand God. This will be a lifelong pursuit – but can you think of a better way to spend your time or effort?! I love knowing that we’ll never get to the end of getting to know God.
Will we ever perfectly understand Him? As mere humans, I highly doubt it. But we can begin to notice patterns and recognize truths. He never changes, His Words don’t return void, He never calls evil good or good evil, etc.
The more time we spend reading His Word and spending time in prayer with Him, the better we will get to know Him. God gives His people a special discernment. A sense within us that helps us determine when something is from Him and when something is not.
A few days ago, I was talking with someone and they mentioned how scary AI was, that you can’t tell what’s fake and what’s real. Now I will concede that AI is incredibly sophisticated, but what it doesn’t have is the spirit of God in it. I truly believe that man is incapable of creating something that we aren’t able to discern isn’t God’s creation – you can tell the difference. Man just isn’t that powerful.
Looking for Answers
As you walk through life, looking for answers, lean into the adventure. True, life can hold many challenges, but it’s important to remember through Christ we are more than conquerors! To put it another way, we were made for this!
So let’s breathe a bit more easily, hold our head confidently, knowing that God has equipped us for such a time as this! As the saying goes, He doesn’t only call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I think the reason is that God likes us to remember how much we need Him. True, it is good to work to be prepared, but often He will lead us to step us into something out of our league, giving us the chance to step out in faith! And when we will do that, He always helps us along the way!
Times like these call for strong people. And that strength comes from God alone! What better way to represent Him then being steadfast and secure in the calling He has placed on your life? Looking for answers is part of what we are called to do – remember how Christ told us to ask, seek, and knock?!
May God bless your days and your heart as you lean in to the adventure He is taking you on!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Keep reading: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2020/04/29/did-you-ask/