Caution: God at Work

What I'm learning on this journey is that regardless of what's going on in my life...God is always at work. He never ceases His work in and through me. I am so thankful for that. God has such grander purposes for our lives than we can imagine. His purposes are far greater than our health, wealth, prosperity, and "problem-free" life. There's a much higher purpose in my life than God just giving me what I want, when I want it, the way I want it, and how I want it. Demanding my way would deprive me of far too many miracles that God desires to do in my life.

I'm so thankful that He doesn't answer all of my prayers. I'm so thankful that His desire is to develop my faith for a greater goal of displaying His glory in and through my life.

And so, in being thankful,

I am learning to be at peace, content with whatever transpires, because I know I can take it from His loving hand.

I am learning to pray for what I want, surrender it all, and be joyful for what God gives.

I'm learning that there's not room for me on God's throne, I belong at His feet.

I am learning to stay focused on Him and continue to serve Him in the midst of great uncertainty.

I am learning to love others and care for their needs when my own heart is breaking.

I am learning to live out my faith even when I can't see results.

I am learning to be faithful even when my flesh wants to give up and run away.

I am learning that when my world seems to be falling apart, it's really just falling into place.

Through the amazing journey...where faith doesn't make things easy, but makes all things possible...God is diligently at work, developing my faith so that it will be more precious than gold. He wants me to have the faith that raises the dead to life, that can heal the sick, that can save the lost, that can reconcile a broken relationship, that can move mountains, that receives miracles in answer to prayer, that rests in Him alone.

He's giving me strength, not just to make it through another day, but to live victoriously! He's giving me His wisdom to make decisions that are critical to my life. He's developing my patience to endure painful injustices. He's offering me forgiveness so that I might offer it to those who offend me. He's filling me with hope for the moments when all hope seems gone. He's pouring down His grace upon me in the times when I least deserve His love. He's giving me joy when my life appears to be unraveling. And God does all of this as He fills me with Himself, wraps His arms of love around me, and draws me close. In His presence, present troubles fade away.

And so, I continually lay down my life...which seems hardly adequate in the face of how Jesus laid down His life for me. Amazing love grips me as I realize the truth... He would rather die than to ever live without me.