1 Peter 5:5-7...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."It is amazing how often I find myself surprised by what God does.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
I know, I know... it seems like a subtle (or not so subtle) form of arrogance but so often I think to myself, "huh, I didn't see that coming". Why it should surprise me that I don't understand the plan that God has OR why He chooses to do what He does is beyond me... obviously. Recently a friend of mine (thank you Sophia) shared a picture she had drawn about how God moves in her life. It was actually two pictures that communicate a very powerful idea about God.
The first picture showed her with a mighty hand behind her gentle nudging her forward as she lived her life. I imagine this hand as being half motivator and half comforter... like my hand on my daughters back as she was learning to ride her bike. Firm yet gentle. Guiding yet unleashing. You sense that at any moment it is OK for you to simple allow yourself to rest in it's guidance BUT it is equally OK to simply move forward passionately allowing each nudge to keep you focused.
The next picture is a little different.
In the next picture the mighty hand has a firm grasp on her and is moving as IT chooses. At first I imagine this hand as powerfully controlling my destiny and making me move towards things that I don't necessarily want... like when I make my son eat his broccoli. It feels powerful and, ironically, a bit removed from my reality. At times it might even feel unloving. But as I reflected on this picture further this week in light of current events in my life another picture began to unfold. Maybe this second picture is more like the time I saved my son off the bottom of the pool. My grasp was NOT gentle. My movements were NOT graceful. My response was forceful (almost uncaring)... and yet, in that moment, my heart could not have been filled with more love.
This week, due to circumstances that were WAY beyond my control, my trip to India was pulled out from under me. A trip I have been looking forward to for a year. As much as I want to blame governments, policies and even the enemy... I know the "Hand of God" is more powerful than all of them. I know the "Hand of God" moves as He (in goodness) wills. I know what His hand feels like on my back as He moves me forward and I know what it feels like to be rescued from circumstance or self. I guess the thing I don't understand is why I'm repeatedly surprised when it happens...
Lord, I surrender to Your hand. I surrender to Your plan. Lead as You will... and will as You lead. Our lives are Yours to do with as You will... any time, any place and at any cost. Amen.
3 comments:
Beautifully said Tim. Yesterday when I inquired about you coming with me to teach in Canada rather than India, Warkentin's response was, "India's loss is our gain." It's one of those mysterious things how God's hand can feel both unkind and kind at the same time, all depending on one's perspective, but often less so disparate with a little time.
so good for us to hear as we remain in limbo about our condo, unsure of where or how God is moving. Yet we DO have faith that HIS HAND is guiding us as we seek Him and try and obey as best we know how right now.
thanks, Tim!
tanks so much for letting me know of the post. It's been good to hear your thoughts on a really tough, yet, it seems also to be a really interesting/inspiring, set of events... beautiful share from 1 peter too, hope you are all well
K
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