Matters of the Heart

I couldn’t wait to share this. Last week I received a wonderful email from a couple. We love them, their family, and their faith. I think it hits home to ANYone who is human. Check it out:

February 7, 2013

As you walk the path of trust, you will experience situations that simply defy explanation. When you look back, after the fact, you could never have figured out a better plan. At the time it seemed strange, mysterious . . . even illogical.

Let me assure you, that’s God working. Things will happen that seem to be totally contradictory, but these are God’s arrangements.

It was a wonderful day when I finally realized I don’t have to explain or defend the will of God. My job is simply to obey it.

It is a waste of time trying to unscrew the inscrutable workings of God. You’ll never be able to do it. That’s simply the way God works.

He honors faith and obedience. He will honor your faith if you will trust Him in a walk of obedience.

And when you trust Him completely, you will enjoy inner quietness and security. You will have a secure confidence that you are walking in His will.

You will be surrounded by His peace.

Here are my thoughts:
Situations that simply defy explanation – I can’t tell you how many times we have experienced that. We have been in situations where people would ask us questions and we just had NO answer. We couldn’t explain why God allowed the things He did. We couldn’t explain why God led us through what He did. The things that seem mysterious or illogical? The tornado. Our babies passing away. The abruptness of Dan losing his job. But it is SO TRUE that I couldn’t have figured out a better plan – we still don’t fully understand why God took our babies home, but I am thinking and have faith that when we meet our Savior face to face, it will all make sense. When we can hold them in Heaven. What a joyous reunion that will be!

Even though we still don’t have understanding in that, God IS STILL AT WORK. Even though we fully don’t understand all of the things that happened last September, we know we don’t have to. We can just rest in the fact that God is sovereign. We have seen in MANY ways, how God has protected us from further hurts. God has blessed us with hope. Tremendous hope. He has shown us characteristics of Himself, that we never fully felt before. If we would not have lost in the way we have, we would not understand His comfort to the extent we have. If we would not have experienced pain, we would not have experienced His tenderness. If we would not have shed tears, we would not have experienced His grace and love. If we would not have lost in the way we have, we would not be in the learning process of what it means to follow God wholeheartedly. And that is something we are still learning – we are far from crossing the finish line in this. God is showing us little things that He is wanting us to let go of. It is still not easy – but the more we let go of ourselves and our desires, the more we become more in tuned to His will. It isn’t rocket science – it’s truth.

God is creating that inner quietness in us. He has been chiseling away at our “bodies” – teaching us ways that we need to trust Him more. When thoughts of doubt or fear come in, He is chiseling that away and replacing them with that inner quietness. I can’t tell you how peaceful of a feeling that is. To be surrounded by the peace of GOD. Just THINK about that. The PEACE OF GOD. When you imagine what that looks like, what do you see or think about? God is willing to give that to us – we just have to trust Him and follow Him. Put aside all of our desires and plans and just surrender to Him. What do you need to give up to experience the peace of God? It has taken me a LONG time to just surrender all that has happened and just trust Him. I was like a little child running up to her daddy, asking “daddy, but why?” I still feel like that little child asking God why, but that is what my Father wants – He wants to know the ins and outs of me (even though He knows already), but what better way to build a relationship with our Father?

So what mysterious or illogical things (in our human minds) have happened to you that you still wonder about? Where is your trust level with God after those situations? (Trust me…I had a LONG ways to go after last fall but am in a MUCH better place now!). God knows we are going to struggle. That is why He is a God of comfort, peace, compassion, and understanding. He gets it. He’s been there. Release it. Trust Him.

Walk by faith.