For the longest time I had written on it “God, please teach me to say it is well with my Soul.” I had heard the song and it struck me, as if for the first time, that the writer, who I know went through the terrible loss of his family, wrote these words, “Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul”. And my immediate thought was, “he said taught. I want to say taught. How do I get there, God?”
I have learned that in my own strength its entirely impossible. I’ve shared in past posts that I struggle with fear and I’ve been on this journey of learning how to truly trust God. I mean really trust Him no matter what life throws at me. The contrast of these two things could not be more difficult. How does a fearful girl put her trust in a God she cannot see? And, more importantly, why does this girl, who loves Jesus so much, struggle with fear anyway?
Okay, I’m not a fan of “steps” but in this case the bible says that we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)
I know that taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ would change everything. Don’t you wish it would happen naturally? I do. But I can honestly say it doesn’t, not for me anyway. Maybe this is just my opinion, but I don’t believe it does for most. Not sure that’s what God intended anyway, or it would be in our own strength not His.
It’s obvious to me that fear is a stronghold in my life. And if I believe (and I do) that fear is a learned behavior, then I must believe that it can be unlearned. And this, my friends, can only happen by the Grace of God… and a commitment to seeking. God doesn’t change us without our willing participation. That is part of our free will choice. He won’t force His ways on us. We can’t do it ourselves, but we can’t just sit and wait for Him to do it either. It takes both. It is His absolute desire for nothing to hinder His plan for our lives, but faith must have legs.
Now I know that God could ask me to do many things to help me overcome the fear in my life. We’ve all heard stories of people jumping out of airplanes. Well, at this moment, I’m grateful that He knows me. He made me. He’s gentle. Baby steps. For now, He’s simply asking me to trust Him by getting on the plane. I will let you know, IF the time comes, that He instructs me to jump.
Stopping here for an Amen!
Life can cause deep wounds. And with my personality and temperament pain causes me to go into protection mode. Protection mode causes the illusion of control. The illusion of control brings fear…. every time. And with fear comes lack of trust.
God brought me to this beautiful passage of scripture in Isaiah 40 many times over the past few weeks. I know He is reminding me over and over who He is and that He has everything under His control. Everything. His love never fails.
26 Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
28 Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Christian Writer, Oswald Chambers writes,” If I will do my duty, not for duty’s sake but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience all of the magnificent grace of God is mine through the glorious atonement by the Cross of Christ.”
Pastor Max Lucado writes, “When God comes,” we doubters think, “all pain will flee. Life will be tranquil. No questions will remain.” And because we look for the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we listen for the shout, we miss the whisper.
MercyMe’s song Even if says, “Give me the strength to be able to sing “It is well with my soul”.
With complete transparency, please ask yourself, have you mastered trusting God in all circumstances, no matter what He brings or allows? Has God taught you or are you seeking Him to teach you as I am?
Father, this is my prayer. At the end of this journey may you find us singing that Whatever my lot, You have taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. Please lead the way as we trust You. In Jesus name, Amen
Today my frame says “I want God more than I want any lesser blessing!” May I always be in a teachable place with my Father.
I wonder what your frame would say??
Click here to Follow by Email
No comments:
Post a Comment