trbccoffeebreak

“This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel:  I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”  Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)

Tiny fingers hitting a hot stove slither away in pain.  One cookie too many and tiny stomachs wish they’d listened.  A wayward teenager lingering too long at a party forfeits her future for the sake of imitation love .  A range of pain simple and complex all indicators that life experiences seek to teach us. From the cradle to eternity, God desires to lead us in the direction of the “best.”  So why is it we resist His tender leading when we have no reason to doubt His outrageous love?  A subtle inner voice echos a familiar chorus.  Eve heard it in the garden.  Jesus heard it in the wilderness.  And we hear “we’ve been cheated, there’s something more and we’ve got to reach for it ourselves.”  Doubt and disillusionment fills our lessons rather than enlightenment, wisdom and understanding.  Why would a loving God allow this to happen?  Why would He bring us this far only to watch our world collapse around us?  Questions searching for an answer that can only be found in the One who teaches us what is “Best.”  We see immediate; He sees long term. We see heartache; He sees wholeness. We see unfulfilled dreams; He sees the big picture.  Trusting God and surrendering our hearts isn’t always easy, but it does guarantee we will not be disappointed when He directs our steps.

“Father, You are the Giver of life – the One who has planned out each of my days.  I know I can trust You to do what’s best.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break