Feb 17 2009
Because God’s Thought are Not Our Thoughts…
Isaiah 55:8 says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Have you ever thought you were following God and it turned out that He had turned and gone in an entirely different direction, and you had gone off on your own? We hate to admit things like that, but they do happen on occasion, and I believe it’s because we let our emotions run away with us and just do what we feel we must to survive, instead of holding tight to God.
Years ago, when our son was small, we learned we were expecting another child. And because I longed for both a son and a daughter I couldn’t wait for this one to put in an appearance. But I had early on told God not to give me a child who would turn away from Him. I couldn’t bear knowing my child would be separated from God forever. Of course, I had no idea what this would cost me later.
At my six month appointment I was shocked to learn that the doctor could hear no heartbeat. The baby had died, and I was desolate with grief at the loss of that child. They couldn’t identify its gender, but in my heart I believe it was a girl. As I look back, I see the wisdom of God in taking her, because in my heart I believe she would’ve walked away from the Lord.
Because of my grief I was unhappy with myself and my life and everything around me. I felt the need for a change of scenery, I think to escape from my pain, not realizing we take it wherever we go.
During that time, instead of taking merely a trip we purchased a house in a nearby metro area, the only one we’ve ever purchased that we never lived in, because, before the closing, we finally came to our senses and realized we were already exactly where we needed and wanted to be, living in the country.
What looked like a great idea in the heat of emotion, as we soon figured out, would’ve been the biggest mistake we’d ever made, because the house was right behind a very busy street, and the neighbors fought and called the police on each other on a daily basis. Had we moved there we would’ve been in the middle of constant chaos and strife and hated every minute of it.
My point in saying all this is that God is our only help in times of need. I know that during my pain I cried out to God and poured out my grief to Him, but then, instead of being still and letting Him minister to me, I ran around like a crazy person, trying to comfort myself, trying to change my circumstances. But it didn’t work out. It cost us several thousand dollars to sell that house, but the lesson was worth every penny.
“Be still and know that I am God,” He says. And He means it. He is the only source of help for us in times of need. So if you’re struggling and not finding the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, take stock and see if you, like me, are running around, refusing to wait on God. It’s only in the waiting that we can actually feel His warm and comforting touch. Without waiting on Him, we miss Him entirely.
I am a testimony to that fact.
Because of His great love,
Nancy
