GOD SPEAKS...A "GOOD" WORD

Sometimes God speaks to me…

…in a Voice that cannot be mistaken.

It's Him.

Often He speaks a good word of comfort or encouragement.  And I am consoled by His presence.  Ah, I sigh to myself, He cares about me.

Sometimes He speaks another word.

Like last week.

I was fretting about a particular situation – (I know, totally out of character…ahem) – and feeling completely overwhelmed at my inability to do anything about it.  I was nervous about the people involved (my sons), and how things were going to turn out.  I wanted to say or do something that would influence it all.

And then, God spoke to me:

"Trust Me, and get out of the way."

Now, if someone said that to me in real life, I think I would be highly offended.  I'd probably have some *pithy words* to say back.

But, when Someone said them to me, I felt comforted and encouraged.

I felt consoled by His presence.

Ah, I sighed to myself, He cares about me.

And then I started to ponder the words that He had said.  

He's right, I thought.  I do need to trust Him.  I need to release to Him all these situations that trouble me so.

And yes, I thought, He's right.  I do need to get out of His way.  He doesn't need my help.  (I offered, He said He had it covered…)

Sometimes in my anxiety – which is so often just lack of trust in disguise – I scramble to influence situations and people and circumstances.  Most of the time, I do it to avoid my anxiety.

Anxiety is a terrible taskmaster.  It often makes me feel like a rat in a maze.  Chasing down nameless fears, running away from horrifying "what if" scenarios, banging into wall after wall of senseless worrying.

How often does God watch me do this and say to Himself...

"Oh, if she would only trust Me…

…and get out of the way."

Lord, you know how hard this is for me.

You know how difficult it is to let go – especially when the situations and circumstances involve people that I love.  

I hate watching (helplessly) their confusion, their discontent, their misunderstandings…their anxiety.

I want to DO SOMETHING.

I guess God needed to remind me (yet again) that He is in charge of it all. And He needs no help in taking care of His children…even if they happen to also be my children.

I have begun to know that God's love for me is perfect love.  And sometimes, perfect love has to speak a word of reprimand.

Kindly, gently – get out of the way.

I'm wondering…in my efforts to "help out" – do I sometimes impede God's work?  Do I slow Him down?  

Obviously, I do not have the power to ultimately thwart His purposes – (and oh, thank goodness for that!)  But do I unconsciously work against His ways?

I am thinking specifically about the times when He wants to do some pruning or refining work in the lives of my sons.  I hate seeing their pain.  It makes me anxious.

But if I try to insert myself by trying to help, am I unintentionally interfering with God?

Maybe…just maybe.

I can just see myself in Scripture…

What if I had tried to run away with Moses instead of trusting him to God and the bulrushes?  What if I had come along and helped Joseph out of that cistern?  What if I had counseled David to give up his anointed kingship to save his life instead of obeying God?

I think sometimes I'm a bit like Peter.

He didn't want the Lord to die…

"But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. 'Heaven forbid, Lord,' he said. 'This will never happen to you!'" 
(Matthew 16:22)

Of course, that wasn't what God had in mind.  

"Peter, trust Me…and get out of the way."

Or how about that little scene in the Garden of Gethsemane?  You know, the whole cutting-off-the-ear confrontation.  I'm sure Peter thought he was doing the right thing by "helping out" – trying to save the Savior.

"Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave.  But Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?''' (John 18:10-11)

"Peter, trust Me…and get out of the way."

Yes, I am very grateful that God speaks to me.  And I am glad that He loves me enough to be honest.


"Trust Me, Sharon.  Trust My ways, My wisdom, My timing.  And yes, you can trust Me enough to get out of the way, for I will work My purposes perfectly."

Love you, Lord.

Stepping aside…



"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8, NIV)

"The LORD of Heaven's Armies has sworn this oath: 'It will all happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided.'" (Isaiah 14:24, NLT)

"But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." (Psalm 33:11, NIV)

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)


What has God said to you lately?  Is He asking you to step aside in some situation, and let Him work?


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