“Behind the Scenes”

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

What one thing do you wish GOD would’ve done differently about you when He was forming you in the womb?

Notice that I gave you one line item to list — yes, it’s the short list this time. If you’re like me, I could probably rattle off half a dozen things within the first six inches of my head from the top. So we’ll tackle this inventory deep and wide and give you just one to pick from. We’ll call it our ‘bone of contention.’

Now, there are those of us who would immediately look to the mirror for consultation. Then there are those of us who would do the tape measure and bathroom scale for their perspectives. There are those of us who reflect back on the empty picture frames that were intended to showcase academic achievement. Some of us will look at aged and faded photographs in bent frames and broken easels.

• Write out in full detail what you wished GOD would’ve done differently for you in the womb.
• Why did you identify this?
• How has this ‘bone of contention’ impacted your life?

Let’s fast forward to that last breath you took in. Scan your memory bank for the ugly seasons of your life (they could be as far back as last night). Bring into into this thought process that ‘bone of contention’ you would’ve wanted GOD to change about you in the womb. Imagine that He actually fulfilled your request. Would the fulfillment of your request have brought about a difference in, around, during, throughout those ugly seasons you just recalled?

If you’re only thinking superficially, Sister, you’re saying: “YES! If GOD had only made my body leaner, I wouldn’t be battling these extra pounds and having to spend more money to buy new clothes.” Maybe you’re thinking: “Yes, if GOD had caused me to be born into a healthier family, I wouldn’t be wrestling with dysfunctional relationships.” Or how about: “Yes, if GOD had only made me smarter, I wouldn’t be struggling financially right now.”

I think we could go all day with this, but one thing is for certain: we are searching for the happiness in temporal things when all the while we are missing out on the joy of the greater deeper spiritual things — those things which only GOD can give. These temporal things are only in our peripheral vision as far as our squinty little eyes can reach.

Oh, but those out-of-this-galaxay-out-of-our-minds-GOD-breathed things … now that’s what I’m talking about, Girlfriend.

Just wander for a moment with me … I promise I won’t take long.

Could it possibly be that our ‘bone of contention,’ those things for which we yearn and burn over — stew and brew over — per chance those are …

• Things that are topics of conversation with GOD — as in ‘ice breakers’ to prayer?
• Things that could have paved the way for you to becoming the best version of you yet, as you journey to get there?
• Special lines of connection to those who share this commonality with you so that you can step out of your comfort zone just for the sake of extending some of that comfort to someone coming up behind you?

You know me by now, I’m not one to let the little stuff flutter by unnoticed — everything is purposed. And so with our one outstanding ‘bone of contention.’

From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened to, no eye has seen any God except you who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him. Isaiah 64:4 CSB

GOD acts on our behalf if we are waiting for Him. Waiting for the financial turnaround, the prodigal turnabout, the victory over exams, the diagnosis in the doctor’s office. Our loving and all powerful GOD, El Shaddai, is at work behind the scenes of our life to bring it all together.

My intent, Sweet Friend, is to get us to do a 180-degree turn to see Who is working behind the scenes on our behalf. And to step back in awe of what we don’t see is intentionally for our good.

As our loving Father carefully orchestrates this symphony we call life, He sees everything that happens within our sphere of existence. What we perceive as staccato or crescendo, or when we feel as though the Almighty Himself is doing a painful pizzicato on us … His Love is ever all over us.

While we may not know why GOD ordained certain details of who we are, we can simply know Him for Who He is — GOD Who loves you so much that He desires the very best for you.

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 CSB

You may not be fully content with what you ‘see’ when you look ‘there’ (wherever there is). That ‘bone of contention’ may be causing restless nights. It could very well be that GOD may choose to remove it. He may in His Omniscience decide to replace it with something else. But with everything that is in me, I can tell you GOD sees someone worth dying for. And He can’t take His Eyes off of you. Trust Him, the best is yet to come.

• Describe one thing that looked and felt like a curse at first glance, but turned out to be a true Blessing in disguise. Provide any details in the comments below that will help us praise GOD with you.
• Let your imagination run a bit: What if GOD had not allowed that event to happen?

Father, thank You for being not only behind the scenes of my life but also at the forefront of things to come. I trust You because You have already been there and You designed everything for my good. Help these eyes of mine to see that it’s what I don’t see that You have full control over. Strengthen me for the Journey, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary