Every Wednesday we’ll post something to do with doctrine and recovery.
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“Thy Will Be Done”
(but are You open to suggestions?)
Trusting that God will do what we hope He’ll do is one thing. Trusting in His good character, no matter what he does or doesn’t do, is another. And that’s a lesson I hope I’m learning.
God parted the Red Sea for the Hebrews (Exodus 14:21-29) protected Daniel in the middle of a lion’s den (Daniel 6:16-23) kept three faithful Hebrews cool while the furnace burned (Daniel 3:20-26) and gave sinking Peter a chance to stroll on the very water that was threatening his life. (Matthew 14:28) If you think it through, I’ll bet you’ll come up with your own history of water walking or consorting with amiable lions. You know what I mean – those times God carried you through dangers unscathed, unharmed, victorious. I remember my own so well, and they’ve always upped my confidence in my loving Father.
But scripture does record times God’s own were allowed to suffer. Joseph, Job, and the faithful described in Hebrews 11 come to mind. So like it or not (and for the record, I don’t) trusting Him never guarantees the desired outcome, but rather, the right one. So said Paul, confidently, when he wrote, “For we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, and are the called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28 ) We may not desire the “all things” that are working together for good; indeed, we may pray for a very different set of circumstances than the ones we’re allowed to face. In that case, the miracle of God in our life is not one of deliverance from hardship, but rather, strength to bear it with faith, even joy. So Peter, writing to people who knew too well the sting of persecution and struggle, put it well: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (I Peter 4:12-13) In cases like that, we’re required to trust in the good character of God (who He is) despite the seemingly distasteful but sovereign decisions He makes about us. (what He does, or allows others to do, to us) And that, let’s admit, is a tough one.
Not that I would know, not really. My history with God has been one of indescribable grace and deliverance. And I don’t just mean via salvation; I mean circumstances. At age 58, I can honestly say that every single thing I have really dreaded has not, in fact, come to pass, even when all logic said it should have. And even when, God forgive me, all justice said it should as well. Even when I’ve been outside God’s will, He’s miraculously intervened in my situations, showing merciful deliverance when severe judgment would have made more sense. And since walking with Him over the past few decades, whenever scary looking dangers have posed and flexed their muscles at me, they’ve been kept at bay. My Father has never failed to hear my weak cry for help; never failed to deliver me from the thing I feared most; and, in fact, I’ve feasted more times than I can count at the banquet he’s plopped down within spitting distance of my enemies, whether they’ve been circumstances or people. They’ve watched, I’ve dined, and it’s been swell.
But at some point He may require me to trust more in His nature than His interference, forcing me utilize strength I never knew I had.
My earthly dad did that very thing when teaching me to swim. At first it was all fun, wading around the shallow end splashing and kicking. Then he carried me into waist deep water, let me go, stepped a few feet away, and said, “Now swim.” I paddled to him, he caught me, all was well. Then he stepped further away, giving the same order, but this time it took more effort on my part because the distance between my challenge and my father was longer. And so it went, each stretch getting a little bigger, until within weeks he was standing on the other end of the pool, still saying , “Swim.” Only by now he was requiring me to use muscles I didn’t know I had, stretching my boundaries and pushing through the pain but always, eventually, winding up back in his arms, safe. He wisely gauged how much I could take, and how soon he could require more from me. And he always got it right.
So my Heavenly Father tells me to swim today. Maybe it won’t be a long stretch; sometimes it’s an easy lap or two. Other times, when the pool’s water gets rough, He’ll simply carry me to the other end, no swimming, no effort. But He may also, at His pleasure and for His own reasons, stride to the far end of the pool, cross His arms and say “Swim.” I’ll protest, no doubt, and He’ll remind me that He never gives unreasonable orders, and that if He says “swim”, then I’ve been given strength to swim no matter how far the lap; no matter how rough the water. He’ll wisely gauge how much I can take, and He’ll always get it right. Sooner or later I’ll be back in His arms, safe.
Now given the choice between “Stand still and see the salvation of God” versus “Keep swimming”, I know what my druthers are. But ultimately I have to ask myself if my life is lived by the My Will or the Thy Will ethic. Often, maybe more often than not, they’re the same. But we all know at some point there’s a conflict between the two.
So today we’ll re-commit to Thy Will, no matter how it aligns with or contradicts our own. And in so doing, we’ll strive to trust in the nature of the One who watches sparrows and counts our hairs, whatever He may allow to come into our life. When He says “Swim”, may we paddle in trust
