Change? No, not for me! I like to be comfortable! I like security! I like things to be in order and somewhat predictable! However, that is NOT how my life tends to flow for very long. It seems like every time I get settled in and think I have God all figured out that He turns my world up-side-down once again and plops me in a place of uncertainty.
What is generally my first response to such change? “God, what’s going on? I don’t understand. Do you have any idea what You are doing? Let me give you some advice on how you should handle my situation!” Well, here’s what the Apostle Paul had to say about God’s wisdom and man’s understanding.
Rom 11:33-34 (NLT) Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice?
So here’s the bottom line. I don’t understand. I don’t know why He allows things to work out certain ways. It is impossible for me to figure it all out. Why? Because His wisdom and knowledge are GREAT! Apparently the human mind cannot grasp fully what goes on in the will and in the mind of our perfect God. It can’t know His thoughts unless He tells me and I am totally unable to give Him advice about what He should do. So why try? The key I see is to go with the flow. Do I always like what He does? NO! In fact, a situation involving change comes my way I may even be angry with Him at first. I’m just being real with you. But if I really, honestly believe what the Word of God says here (and I do), then I have no choice but to change my response.
We had a saying when I was a young believer back in the 1970’s that went like this: “Let Go and Let God!” That’s still the secret to a genuine faith walk. I may not understand what He is doing or why, because it is impossible for me to do so, but I can rest in the fact that out of His great wisdom and knowledge He truly knows what is best for me. So I just need to let go of my fear, frustration and anxiety and let Him be God. It’s also important that I try not to take back control of the life I gave Him when I accepted Jesus into my heart.
Rom 11:36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
See the word “everything“? It all comes from Him. It all exists by His power…..and get this…it’s all intended for HIS glory. Whatever He does it’s to bring glory to HIMSELF. There’s no promise that it will be for your glory. In fact the verse ends with this very bold declaration: all glory to Him forever. You and I are not mentioned. However, I can tell you this from experience and from many years of studying the Bible: the end result of any situation that you surrender to God will end up blessing you.
So how do you make a right response to change? Let God do His thing. Disengage your brain from the circumstances and connect your heart with His heart. Then listen for His voice, do what He says and enjoy the experience. It’s all going to work out for good (Romans 8:28), even drastic or difficult change!
