A Sweeter Journey - Part I

I’m writing from a little country town in southern Kentucky where I was born and raised. The pace is slow here ~ and that’s just what I was in need of. Everyone goes through stages in their lives when they need to do some soul searching. Life tends to crowd out the voice of reason and it seems the only practical thing to do is to steal away to a quiet place ~ and my hometown has been just that.

While my trip is already more than half over, I’ve had many opportunities already to pray and study on God’s Word ~ and as I said “do some soul searching.” I’ve just really needed some affirmation that God is with me all the way ~ in all things ~ and that no matter what journey this life will take me on ~ that if I remain close to Christ and continue seeking His will for my life ~ that He will see me through the thick and the thin ~ that He will see me through seemingly impossible situations.

Since I arrived here I have been reading an old Catherine Marshall book that I found on my mother’s bookshelf. It is entitled Something More, and I must say it is seems to be just what the Great Physician ordered. Lately I have been discouraged about things in my life and in the lives of others. I admit that I have at times wondered what God planned to do about these “things.” You know the “things” I refer to, don’t you? They are spoken of in I Thessalonians 5:18 In every THING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Yep, those “things.” Catherine Marshall writes “Unless we do accept God in an all-inclusive “every thing” we can have no contentment.” She goes on to say “The news is that there is no situation ~ no breakage, no loss, no grief, no sin, no mess ~ so dreadful that out of it God cannot bring good, total good, not just “spiritual” good, if we will allow Him to.

I know it is true. I’ve preached it innumerable times to my children, my friends, and my colleagues when they’ve hit a rough spot in the road of life. But I’ve needed someone to remind me ~ that there is nothing that can happen to me without God’s knowledge, without God’s consent, without God’s participation as Savior. I suppose I have had a level of rebellion within my spirit as I have been dealing with these “things.” But God does not want me to harbor rebellion. We wants me to “lay down my arms”~ so-to-speak ~ at His feet. There must be a full surrender on my part ~ acknowledging that Christ is in complete control and that He has complete authority in all areas of my life ~ in particular these “things” that I need to be thankful for even though it is most difficult to be thankful for them.

It isn’t going to be easy but I greatly desire contentment in my life come what may. Are you struggling with something ~ carrying a weight that you shouldn’t ~ responding with a rebellious spirit. Take it from me my friend – it will only prolong the agony. When God is trying to get our attention we must lay it all down at His feet – all the hurt and the pain, all the agitation and disappointment ~ and let Him do His perfect work.