Struggle?

Today is Monday and it is raining here. We need it...we REALLY need it. As a gardener, I love the rain because the flowers need it! God knows we need it too.

Do you ever struggle with the sovereignty of God? Do you wonder why he has planned the things in your life the way He has? Do you doubt his love and goodness for you? When your relationships are messy and your circumstances are difficult, do you question his love for you?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the sovereignty of God. His ways. His plans. His work in me. His work in his world. The plans he has for all of us, me, my kids, my grand kids, my family, my friends, my Church.

My hubby and I had six children who many times thought they didn't need us. They resisted us over and over again. We'd say "NO-NO" and they would reach for the hot stove anyway. We said "No-no" when they wanted to run into the street. They wanted self rule many times. Like us, they often assumed their intentions were good and their plans sound. Like us, they tended to think they were capable of knowing what was best, even when they lacked important information and experience.

Our children did not have the ability to grasp the abstract reasons we said "No No". They were too young to know the purposes of the command or the plans for why we did what we did. Like we often do, they simply felt they knew a better way, their way.

So we often took our child by the face and said "look at me. Do you know how much I love you? Do you know I would never ask you to do something that would hurt you or make you sick? Do you trust me? I am so sorry you do not understand, and one day you will, yet I want you to obey me. You are too young to understand but I want you to trust me. Say to yourself.....my mommy loves me...I trust my mommy". Over and over and over again, I had this talk with my kids. Over and over again with each one.

God does the same thing with me and you, over and over and over again. He meets us in one of the difficult hallways (or driveways) of our lives. He kneels down before us and in love, asks us to trust his loving and wise rule, even though we do not have a clue what he is doing.

He knows there are times and moments when our life does not look like there is anyone ruling it, let alone someone wise and good. He knows there will be times when we will wish we could be the author of our own story. He knows that at times we are overwhelmed by what is on our plate or what we face. He knows that we are confused by His plan. He knows there are times we do not understand what is going on. Yet, we can trust him. Just like my children learned that our plans were for their good, God's plans are even better for our good.

I do not have to understand. I do not have to have my way. Real rest is found in trusting the PERSON who is in control of things I don't understand. So I trust HIM!!!

Lots to think about, don't you agree?

"Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." Psalm 115:3

"...all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" Daniel 4:35

Enjoy your rainy day today, I know I will !

Trusting HIM, with a most grateful heart, Sherry Lynette