Living in the Great Unknown

The title of chapter eight in An Untroubled Heart, says it all: "Overcoming Fear of the Unknown". Do we not all dislike not knowing and the natural fear that comes which we must overcome?

No uncertainties will be guaranteed. But, certainty of God's provision will be guaranteed.

Many a time--too many a time--my only company while waiting has been worry. To express worry with another makes it seem less valid--less worthy of my time. So, that should drive me to share my worries so as to see how futile they are...but I don't.

Micca shares her worry over death since losing her first husband at a young age of 21. She shared in details of her 21 year old son's recent car accident. The words of the attending officer really exemplified how fortunate Mitch was to be alive, let alone not injured. The only guardrail in miles had saved his life and his car from veering over the cliff. (The guardrail and of course God too.) For all of Mitch's life, Micca was terrified of the mere possibility of her son dying. Here's the kicker: the date of Mitch's accident is the date his biological father (Micca's first husband) died in his tragic burn accident. It was exactly as if God was saying "don't fear my child. I have saved your son." On the date a 21 year old father died, that same date, a 21 year old son was miraculously saved from death. Holy bumps!!

"The only power you and I have over any fear is to place it in God's care."

"We must trust God's plan. Regardless of our spooks, God's plan alone stands firm and true." But what if we see the free will of another person directly change His plans? I've never struggled more with God's plan, God's will, than I have since I've seen Him allow another's free will to take full course.

I love what Pastor and Bible teacher David Jeremiah says about worry. "It comes from the Greek word which means to have a divided mind. So, to be a worrier is to have your mind divided between legitimate thoughts and thoughts that are not legitimate--thoughts which you shouldn't be thinking. Worry is future-focused. The person who worries has two problems: the future is not here, and the future is not his." Enough said, huh?

God will guide the way. God will make a way...where there seems to be no way.

God-focused not event-focused.

"Like the Israelites, we are sometimes called to move forward without detailed instructions." You mean I was to get instructions, even with details? I feel lucky if I get instructions. Mostly I feel l'm flying by the seat of my pants in regards to this blind journey of faith in restoration.

"If we will fall on our face before His throne in total weakness and cry out, He will strengthen and lead us." [my emphasis] Total weakness = supernatural strength.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Much of God's Word is so deep. It may seem like riddles to the passer bys, to the one who skims it quickly. Maybe He does talk in riddles but they are so beautiful, rich, and ever so deep. Ponder these three (paraphrases):
♥to die is to live (Philippians 1:20)
♥those who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30)
♥whoever loose his life finds it (Matthew 10:39)

"Yielding to God's will means that when we come face-to-face with a problem we've never encountered before, we can maintain our peace and actually look forward to the next step God has for us." Look forward? I can honestly say I do because I just want to be out of this phase, this season. Aren't trials only suppose to last for a season? How long is a season? I do look forward to more learning and growing in this time solely alone with God. And, I can look forward to post restoration. Unfortunately, I cannot speak with such excitement as the professional football player did. "When asked why he wasn't saddened by the accident, he explained that since God allowed his football career to come to an end, a new adventure must be awaiting him." I never thought about it but God did allow my marriage to be dissolved. He did/does not condone, desire, or will it but He allowed it. Honestly, I struggle with that. I can see the reasons for temporary separation. I can see the gains. But...but...it's still hard to swallow that He allowed a Christian man to divorce a Christian woman with the covenant still in tact. It's like a right brain-left brain war. There are things that excite me on this new adventure. Things that sadden me. Things that should be shared. Things deeply longed to be shared (both specifically with him.)

"We don't have to struggle to live for God. We simply have to let go and allow God to live His life through us." Wow. Though we as Christians do struggle and live a life full of trials, we need not struggle to live for Him. It shouldn't be a struggle. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20

"Either our thoughts can take us captive, or we can take them captive." If we are God-focused, we can take our thoughts captive. If we are circumstance-focused, our thoughts can take us captive. Let's not live in captivity unless it's being held captive by Christ. Live in Christ...live in freedom.

Do I trust in what I see or in Whom I know? David didn't trust in the huge Goliath before him. His faith went much deeper, allowing him to recall God's past provisions and total worthiness of David's trust. Trusting in God "always leads to a greater confidence in God." Have you ever pondered that David gathered five stones (still seemingly not enough in my mind) yet he only used one. This further shows God's provision.

"In order to take captive the lies of the enemy, you and I must know our God." [my emphasis] Amen! Satan is sly and will even twist God's Word, His Truth, to seem true.

Micca quotes Anne Graham Lotz saying: "God has used pressures and pain and problems in my life as the nails that have penned me to the cross. By submitting to Him in those things, I have entered into an experience of death to myself." Each death should bring us closer to God. So if that is the case, then let me ask for more deaths because I want to be as close as possible to the Almighty One and His Son.

Wanting to Live Free-er,

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I know the grammatically correct term is more free but it just didn't flow right as my closing.