Sought, Provided, or Allowed

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself. (Walter Anderson)

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5)

What comes our way in life is a combination of what is sought, provided, and allowed. We seek things such as a good car, bargains at the grocery store, or the most cost-effective way to get that vacation we desire. Other things are provided to us such as the roads we travel, the air we breathe, and the rains that come in season. Then there is this other category of what is 'allowed' in our lives. It is sometimes the things that are 'allowed' that try us the most, putting us through our paces, testing the very fiber of our being. We may not have sought them, nor did we really hope they would be provided, but when God allows something in our life to occur, we had better pay attention to it. There is something profound in what he is about to do, teach us, or bring forth from that thing!

In alert expectancy - this is to be our attitude when what is 'allowed' comes our way. We may not know the reason for the events or circumstances, but we can gain much from them if we allow our hearts to be in tune with the heart of God. We may not want the grief the moment brings about, as I doubt Job of the Old Testament wanted the loss of his family, flocks, herds, and wealth. We may not even relish going 'through' the moments from the beginning of those events until they are over, but as long as we walk with God 'through' them, we will come out the other side with something more than we had when those events began. We can't round up enough containers - that says it all. God might have allowed the events to occur, but deep within those events lies something more than we can imagine - godly character. Just sayin!

We need those circumstances

Open my eyes so that I can see all the wonderful things in your teachings. (Psalm 119:18)

Most of the time, the main thing we need in life is to see things just a bit clearer. We have a general idea of what may be happening, or where we may be headed, but we seldom see the bigger picture of all that will be involved as we get from here to there. We need eyes opened, hearts prepared, minds cleared of certain expectations, and a willingness to move forward. There is no greater thing we can seek than to ask God to do just that in our lives!

The teachings of today may not amount to 'the whole deal', but they will add to the ones from yesterday, preparing us for the ones tomorrow will bring, but we need to be patient as God unfolds them to us. When things unfold just a little bit here and there for us, we can get a little impatient waiting for the final reveal, can't we? What happens when we set out on a journey? We have a destination in mind, don't we? We 'sort of' know where we are going, have 'tentative' plans to do this or that, and 'dream' of some encounter that might occur. Does all that we knew, planned, or dreamed come to pass? Not always.

What we are doing when we ask God to open our eyes to the things he wants to teach us is acknowledge that we don't 'own the moment' - he does! We just live in it, making the most of it, learning what we can from it, and taking that learning into the next. Line upon line, precept upon precept, our learning is built upon. Our dreams our expanded, our plans fall away as he exposes bigger ones he has for us, and we begin to realize what we thought we knew from the beginning was a pittance compared to what he wants to show us right now.

His teachings aren't limited to the words on the pages of our Bibles. Yes, they are the start of many a great lesson for us, but as when those lessons are taught through circumstances or 'moments with him', they are expanded upon until we come to understand the purpose within the lesson. We need that expansiveness of learning, don't we? We crave it! The next time you are going through a circumstance, you may just want to ask God what the lesson is within it. He is sure to show you how he has prepared you for the moment. Just sayin!

"IS"

Is:  To exist or live; to occupy a place or position; to continue or remain as before.  A small word, but it tells us much, doesn't it?  One that "is" really is one who exists and lives - occupying a placement or position unlike any other.  The most amazing part of the definition of "is" can be found in the last part - the concept of continuing or remaining as before - unchanged by what has come or what lies ahead.  This is the definition of the character of God - unchanged by what has been - what is today - or what will come in the future.  Solomon spends a great deal of time outlining all the accomplishments of a man on a quest - getting more of everything, living without restraint, not held back by anything.  He even tells us of his tremendous struggle with "accumulating" all (wisdom, houses, wives, lands, personal property - you name it).  It comes at a price - after all is said and done, time spent and body worn, nothing really all that satisfying emerges from the pursuit.  Then when it seems like he is going to really leave us with a "downer" in this book, he drops in little tidbits like the one below.

I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].  (Ecclesiastes 3:14 AMP)

Whatever God does - it endures.  Whatever he does is perfect - nothing can be added which will lend to its perfection, nothing can be taken from it which will leave it less than perfect.  Whatever God does, it is with the intention of capturing the attention of man's heart - so man might enter into relationship with the one who "is".  

The "whatever" of God - do we really understand it?  I doubt we do, for the "whatever" encompasses all he does - the full extent of his love, grace, peace, provision, and power.  Solomon says God "is" - he is continuing as before - he changes not.  If this doesn't give you hope, then I don't know what will for everything around us changes - except God.  

"Whatever" really means "no matter what".  Solomon is saying "no matter what God does - it endures".  I often use the expression, "Whatever!"  What I am really saying when I use it is that no matter the circumstances or choices, what will be will be.  Solomon was likely saying something quite similar - no matter the circumstances - God "IS".  He IS our ability to overcome.  He IS our refuge and strength.  He IS our hope and trust.  He IS all we need.

Knowing that he IS - Solomon comes to this conclusion for all man faces in life.  It is God's goal to show himself as continually present - constant in all circumstances - always faithful to his promises.  Now, this may not seem like much to you, but when we put this in perspective, we begin to see the truth of God occupying a placement in each of these circumstances - not just "present" to observe, but to be our "whatever" in the midst of them!  

Solomon concludes from all his life's events - seeking all that would promise satisfaction:  Nothing satisfies like the "whatever" of truly recognizing the one who IS.  When men come to a place of recognizing God as the one who existed before our circumstances overwhelmed us, present in the midst of the pressing storms, and ever-faithful to navigate us through the continual flux of the future, he determines a need for the one who will not change his position - he remains central in our lives no matter the circumstances.

I think it might help us to see another translation of this passage to put this all together:  I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. (MSG)  The thing God asks of us - trust the one who IS.  Stop asking questions and simply worship him (his consistency, his unchangeable character, his faithfulness).  Life deals us different hands at different stages - much like a game of cards.  One hand may seem quite good, allowing us to "score a few points".  Another may seem to "subtract" from the overall "score".  The truth is, life is not a game of chance like cards.  God IS - he has been in our past, he is in our present, and he will be in our future.  All these are "tenses" of "IS" - to have BEEN, IS, and BE.  If you don't get it by now - Solomon is really helping us disconnect from what will constantly change - amassed treasures, positions, etc.  He is pointing us toward the connection which will remain constant - humbly submitted to the one who IS.

Not sure where you stand today, but when I face the "whatever" of life, I want to know I am walking through it with the one who IS.  Just sayin!

Modifying or Modified?

Most would think of a "circumstance" as something which modifies or influences what will happen - what the outcome will be.  When we have the right one in charge of the "circumstances", there is no "modifier" beyond our ability to deal!

Lord, change our circumstances for the better, like dry streams in the desert waste!  Let those who plant with tears reap the harvest with joyful shouts.
Let those who go out, crying and carrying their seed, come home with joyful shouts, carrying bales of grain!   (Psalm 126:4-6 CEB)

Do you know what a drought is?  It the simplest sense, it is a period of "dryness".  Most "dry spells" are not a matter of our doing.  They are "circumstances" beyond our control.  In the times of "dryness" there is much at work attempting to modify our responses - perhaps even shaping our outcome, as a result.  In the time of dryness we have a couple of options: 1) Scheme our way through it, figuring and refiguring a way to bring life back ourselves; 2) Bolt, looking for refreshment in any other place than where we are at; or 3) Honker down, trusting God for the refreshing rains just around the corner.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to the circumstances to modify my life by driving me away from what God will do "in" them!  I want God to drive me "into" the circumstances deep enough to allow HIM to modify me, not the circumstances!

It is indeed God who changes our circumstances for the better.  One thing I have come to recognize - God often changes US before he changes our circumstances.  So, in respect to the "modifying" effect of circumstances - it is really not the circumstances which "modify" us, but finding God in the midst of them which does!  

David points out a couple of character traits of one who is not modified by the circumstances, but is met in the midst of the circumstances by the "modifier" of our hearts.  First, they are not just honkered down, hoping for the best.  They are planting, carrying seed, going about their regular tasks.  They don't cease to do what they know to do!  Too many times, we face circumstances which seem beyond our control with the attitude of just standing still - not even doing what we know to do.  God's advice to us - do what you can, then let him take care of the rest.  If I am capable of putting my hand to the plow, I need to plow.  If I have seed, I need to sow it.  The principle is quite plain here - do what we know to do, then trust God!

Next, he points out being honest with our emotions.  Most don't plant with tears, but it may be these very tears which are the first "moisture" to touch those tiny seeds.  Did you ever stop to consider the tears you shed as being the very thing which waters the very seed you are planting?  It may not be a significant amount of moisture, but perhaps it is enough to begin to breakdown the tough outer coating of the seed and cause it to begin to germinate!  I don't think God ever expects us to mask our emotions - if we are honest with him in our emotions, he can deal with them!  

Last, but not least, those who go out will return.  Their return is not empty-handed, but with much more than they ever imagined.  This is the principle of sowing and reaping.  In due season, there is a harvest.  When we trust God with our "circumstances", we also trust him with the "outcome" (and the "INcome").  It was not the circumstances which modified us - it was the great "MODIFIER" of the circumstances which modified us.  The harvest may not have been possible without us first going out - doing what we knew to do.  The seed spread in drought is there when the rains come.  Think about it - if the seed is never planted, no amount of rain will produce a crop!  

Instead of allowing the circumstances to modify us, allow the modifying to come from the one who hold the circumstances squarely in his hand!  Just sayin!