Skip to main content

“It’s perfectly normal and okay to feel afraid and confused and stationary.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People (p. 138). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) 

And each one of us has experienced times where we have felt confused and stationary, haven't we?

Bob goes on, “We shouldn’t be surprised when we don’t understand what a God who says He surpasses all understanding is doing. God doesn’t want us to get stuck scratching our heads or overanalyzing our circumstances.  He doesn’t send in all the plays to get us out of our funk and He doesn’t carpet-bomb us with instructions about what to do next.  Instead, He continues to be with us.  He’s not entirely silent when He is either.  He’s sent us books about Him and has included a lot of letters, and He’s sent us friends too.  He’s given us success and failures – plenty of both.”

Bob says, “When we dream up something where the outcome seems uncertain and we don’t hear God’s voice, what if God isn’t saying anything to us because He’s already said it?”

I was reading today in the Old Testament book of Exodus about how God took His people out of a very difficult situation.  They were slaves in Egypt.  I listened as I was walking today to a sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick of how Jesus sent His disciples into a storm and then how He saved them, and He did save them.  I can go back in my life and see where over and over God took care of me through some very difficult situations.  I’ve had friends who shared with me lessons they have learned.

Bob says, “I can picture God, sitting beside each one of us not confused or afraid, but confident we have all the information we need.  We may not have had experience with the circumstances we’re presently facing but He’s allowed us to experience a lifetime of other things to prepare us for what is coming next.

He also says, “Sometimes God is confidently quiet.  He doesn’t give us more explanations.  He knows we don’t need more words of instruction.  The moment we take a tiny shuffle forward, what God is really thinking is this:  I love you.  You’ve got this.  You know enough.”

And you can be confident too.  Will you believe that you’ve got this, that you know enough and that He loves you? 


Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

  A thought by Max Lucado from his book,  You Are Never Alone  (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu
Post a Comment
Read more

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e
Post a Comment
Read more

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind
Post a Comment
Read more