Looking over my shoulder I take a quick glance at the calendar on the wall. Here we are … three and a half weeks to a new year. How did that happen?
If I pause and take that moment to just exhale into the realization that life is ever moving ~ with or without my consciousness, I am reminded of the importance of being present and savoring the sweet Presence of my Savior.
I’ve learned this year that trusting in Him is what spares me from the ill effects of anxiety and worry. Perhaps you have experienced the consequences of health issues that result from stress and anxiety as I have. It was in that space in time when I was confronted with my insistence of being in control and how wrong (so very wrong) that is. It’s not how we were meant to live.
Surrendering my trust to GOD is allowing Him the room to make amazing things happen in my life.
When you think about it, we don’t experience the phenomenal when the expected is all we get. It’s like someone telling you how the movie ends before you see those final scenes.
7-8 My help and glory are in God
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be. Psalm 62:7-8 The Message
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 NIV
Trusting in GOD for the unknown ~ why does that seem so hard to do? Is it because we are fearful of what He may ask of us? Do we run and hide our faces when He calls us out to do the thing we most dread?
Because we have no idea what is on the other side of our situations and we are over~the~top uncomfortable with not knowing what’s coming up. It’s that backseat driver in all of us.
As we stare at our plans for the upcoming year, perhaps we can take the equivalent amount of energy and pour it into believing GOD for what He has said for us without know the minute details of how His Plan will unfold. You see, Friend, it’s in the process ~ the journey ~ that we learn to walk in faith. How would our faith grow if we knew in advance how our days would unfold? There would be no need to depend on GOD because we would know everything. You must admit, the prayers you’ve prayed in anguish were moments when you were the closest to your Savior.
Whatever you’re wrestling with at this moment, make the decision to release your hold on it ~ you can’t fix it anyway. I’m sure you’ve done everything you can to address it and make it better. And despite your efforts, things remain the same. Could it be that the Lord is telling you that He wants to handle it for you?
3 ‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things that you still do not know about.’ Jeremiah 33:3 NET
I’ll let you in on a secret here: there was a day when that happened to me. When it suddenly dawned on me (or maybe I should say that I allowed for the light to shine in on my thoughts) that GOD didn’t want me to succeed with my mapped out details to solve something that was very important to me.
I decided to do what I tell others to do: place it in His Hands.
And like the miracles that are documented for us in the Bible, Jesus acted on my behalf in ways I had not imagined that He would. He multiplied and continues to do so with that little bit of trust.
Palm~to~the face embarrassed, I reflect back on all the times I had the same opportunity to do this but didn’t. I ponder over how gracious GOD was in those moments to spare me from a devastating end result. Nonetheless, I also think of the consequences I could have avoided had I depended on the Lord instead of forcing my own plans. How could I have been so arrogant to think I could know better?
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
His Power is manifested in my weakness. That. Right. There. And it’s where my plans, my troubles, my challenges of life come face~to~face with the sovereignty of GOD Almighty. It all pales in comparison to Who He is and what He will do. Period.
You may be in the midst of filling those January 2025 days with projects and goals. Not necessarily a bad thing. But before you go full steam ahead, let the Spirit of the Living GOD rest on those precious thoughts of yours. There just may be a sweet surprise waiting for you. Like a Christmas present that was mistakenly left unnoticed under the tree with your name on it, you may be in for an unexpected blessing.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 