I can guarantee you that I do not fully appreciate uncomfortable situations or difficult circumstances, particularly in light of the significance and faith-growth they hold for me!  I like certainty; I like security—I do not like facing the unknown. …in my natural way of thinking, that is.  My natural way of thinking just sees problems and tries to work out solutions to either remedy or detour around adversities.

As I write this, I am reminded of the Robert Frost poem that declares, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took the one less traveled by” (not sure if I quoted it accurately, but that is the gist of it).  I think that, when we picture the two-road scenario, it is in the context of choosing to serve either Jesus or the self and the world.  What if, after we choose to follow the Savior, there are other road-choice opportunities?—where we are challenged with a deepening faith road or a safe road?

We serve a God of surprises and endless possibilities!  In the midst of “leaning on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), we can miss the big picture—or rather, the big God in the midst of the cinema of our lives.  I confess that I have faced some rather daunting circumstances in my life, and in my prayers I have explained to God how He needed to resolve my problems, and how He should provide for me.  I so easily forget Who I am talking to!—the One who created all that exists from the Words He spoke, continues to speak!

When the disciples were puzzling over the possibility of salvation, Jesus told them, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).  Salvation, and everything else is possible with our Father, who loves us—“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).  God is a God of limitless possibilities and provision for everyday life and for the extraordinary times of difficulty.  He is present (Immanuel – God with us, Matthew 1:23), and He is “the same, yesterday, today, and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8).

Things get a little tricky, however, when we don’t see the answers we hope for or expect.  We can ask a couple of questions when that happens… The first is “did I ask, or did I just assume that God knew what I needed and expect His provision?”  He knows.  Have no doubt about that!  However, the Bible instructs us that we do not have because we do not ask.  Jesus came to restore our relationship to God, yet as Christians often we do not live in relationship to our Father. …or we live without truly understanding the rapport we now have with Him.  I believe that relationship with God, just as bonds with other people, is a journey of discovery.  I know my children well, but I do not know them completely or perfectly; I often learn new and exciting things about who they are.  It is similar with our Father—I know Him through Jesus and the Bible, but also I am daily learning new and exciting things about Him.  It is from the basic aspect of relationship through conversation, that He listens to us and entertains discussion about the circumstances of our lives and the provisions we need.

The other question I find important to ask myself relates to motivation—“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2, 3).  God is all about motivation, that is, while we look at outward appearances and situations; He is focused on our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 15:11, 18, 19).  I believe it is wise to ask the Father to expose my motivations (if I ask myself, I’m pretty sure I’ll get the wrong answer).

God doesn’t deny us pleasure—“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11)—however, the places where we find joy and the things that bring us pleasure change as we proceed down the path of life.  Our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), and Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12), where pleasures exist, therefore, we have a life of pleasure available to us!

My problem solving nature always wants to find a solution or an explanation as to why things go wrong or why my prayers don’t get answered within my allotted timeframe or in the manner I deem most appropriate.  It is a better approach to go to my Father and ask for his perspective—He is more than willing to give me wisdom!  And often there are unseen benefits and lessons in the experience, as well as an opportunity to learn from Him.  I get into trouble when I try to establish formulas or discount God’s promises, thinking them (and Him) untrustworthy.  I try to establish conditions and criteria for getting my needs met and manipulating God into doing what I want.

I admit that I have looked at the promises of God and conjured up reasons why they probably were not applicable to me.  I have formed human traditions, just like the Pharisees, in an attempt to give flesh to the things that are spiritual—adding conditions, caveats, and explanations where I felt them necessary, and effectively discounting the “exceedingly great and precious promises” of God (2 Peter 1:4).  There is a word for that:  UNBELIEF!

God has been so gracious to rearrange my thinking.  It has been quite a process to unlearn old, religious habits of fear and unbelief, but this journey is amazing!  …makes me think of a kid sticking his/her foot into a lake—hesitant.  It seems chilly at first, but in unbridled joy, the child who just wants to play, is soon splashing around in the refreshing water, ducking and jumping, laughing and swimming, oblivious to all else, just enjoying life!  That is how our Father wants us to be, enjoying life—The LIFE, who is Jesus—that he offers, open to all of the surprises and possibilities He has for us.