At times I just don’t get what God is doing. To paraphrase Shakespeare, my prayers seem to be “filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.” I feel helpless in the face of injustice, and frustrated that God doesn’t just fix it! When that happens, doubt creeps in like a fog to obscure my faith and dampen my spirit. The finish line blurs, tempting me to stop short.
If that sometimes describes you, take heart! The writer to the Hebrew Christians exhorted them to “hold unswervingly” to their hope. He challenged them to recall the earlier days when they stood their ground in the face of suffering, didn’t give in to insults, and joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property (Hebrews 10:32-34). These seasoned believers were now in danger of not just losing their confidence in God but of throwing it away. The writer urged them to persevere and to trust in God’s faithfulness.
Our loyalty to God rests upon our faith in who he is. When we don’t understand what God is doing, if we remember who he is, we will inevitably get to the answer of the “why”. Nothing he allows in our lives falls outside of the context of his love.
So, no matter how perplexing your circumstances are right now, or how dim your understanding, don’t chuck your confidence in the character of God. Grab hold of his unchanging, faithful love. Eventually the fog will clear and when you see the finish line… you’ll get it.
Father, thank you for giving us strength to hold on in the midst of our questions. When we don’t understand what you’re doing, help us remember your unchanging love and faithfulness. Amen.
Today's Challenge: Write down the things you just don't understand on a sheet of paper. Then fold it in half so only the “blank” side shows. Fold it over again. On the outside, write “I trust in God.” Hold it in your hand as you pray about it.
Additional Resource: If you feel a bit foggy about what God is doing in your life, read What Is God Up To?.