The Providence of God

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us "I know the plans I have for, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future."

Sometimes it seems that God is not listening to our prayers or our heart cry's.  It may seem to you even in this moment that he is not listening and you are tired of waiting on him.  Let me encourage you, nothing is more worth it than waiting on the Lord.  Even if it may take 40 years like Moses.  Even if it may take you to your 90's like Abraham.  The promise of God never fails.

Michelle and I were desirous for a certain ministry position along with traveling as evangelists, and it seemed the door wouldn't budge, but who would've thought we'd be where we are at now?  Seemingly, if the door we were pounding down would've opened we would've been unavailable for what God had for us just around the corner.  Not to mention the unexplainable, life giving lessons that can only be learned in times of confusion, struggle and pain.

I love what Mark Batterson shares in his newest book Wild Goose Chase - the story in Acts of the Apostle Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta.  He survives the storm only to get bit by a poisonous snake, but he shakes it off into the fire.  Malta was way off Paul's map and course, but by the providence of God he went through a shipwreck and a snakebite and as a result an island of people came to Christ.  We would never guess it, but sometimes God uses the shipwrecks and snakebites in our lives to place us directly in his destiny for us.  We are crying out from the midst of our pain, while he works diligently behind the scenes directing his perfect purposes for our lives.

Our only responsibility is to walk wholeheartedly with the Lord.  As the Amplified Bible explains faith, the leaning of our whole personality and everything that we are on Jesus.  We can trust him.  We can have faith that he is working out his best plan for our lives as we lose ourselves in his wonder.