Monday, November 5, 2012

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 anxietywhich 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?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"


9 comments:

  1. It's a frequent thing with me... I seem to FEEL better when I 'take charge' of a hard situation, but I am learning... to more quickly let it go, and TRUST. Sometimes I simply have to make that choice, despite wanting to fix it myself, and right away I know that's what He wants. :)

    My mother used to say that sometimes it feels like we aren't doing enough and almost being irresponsible, when she knew as I am finding, that the kind of faith that pleases God, often may feel like that, when in our hearts, we know it's His way and in it we learn that is exactly the right thing to do.

    This is a rambling comment, but one that hits me too. The learning curve is improving though. :)

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  2. I love this Sharon "trust me and get out of the way." I'm learning to get out of the way too, its hard though especially with those we dearly love, like our children, but then we have to remember they are first His children!

    I'm an anxious mom too so I totally do understand!

    betty

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  3. Oh that was Good..and so God! I can name 3 instances right off the top of my head and they all have the same genes as I. ;)
    Trust...I must stop myself and just TRUST HIM!
    Great post!
    Thanks Sharon.

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  4. That was so good!!!

    I can relate to it so much, too. Frankly, I'm worse than a Miss Fix-It, I'm a busy body who is always trying to make a difference and bring about change.

    The part I loved the most was when you gave scriptural examples of things that people could have done which would have been in conflict with God's will and plan.

    Still, just as Sonya said, I'm still learning. I'm trying to learn the difference between being part of the plan and stepping aside and letting God do what He does best.

    I'm struggling with this exact issue where my church is concerned.

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  5. Great post, Sharon! The most difficult thing to let go is the CONTROL - I want to manipulate and control things so they come out they way that I "think" they should, when, like in your post, God has it all under control. He needs NO help from me! (LOL) In fact, I think He is pleased and we are blessed, when we surrender control and the need to control to the One who controls it all!
    Love you!

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  6. This has to be one of my biggest struggles...also with my sons. I want to fix it, make it better, help where I can but the Lord has really been convicting me to get out of the way. That his plans and purposes are much bigger than mine, that although I may not understand and I certainly don't enjoy watching it...that I need to trust in Him

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  7. Such good stuff, Sharon! And you're right...we were both on the same page regarding our posts! I love your expanded thoughts on the subject and always come away with applicable nuggets of truth from your blog! Getting out of the way is a visual that works :). xo

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  8. Oh you sound so much like me in your anxiety and always over analyzing everything. I am actually reading a very old book right now by "Dale Carnegie How to Stop Worrying and Start Living"
    The stories in it make my worries so little and ridiculous. I actually have been able to let a few situations go and realized everything was fine and even if it wouldn't be worrying is not going to change anything. God does have our lives in his hands and we must learn to trust he will. Letting go it's an amazing feeling when one can truly do this. Thank you for sharing for so many have this same problem. Have a wonderful week.

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  9. I heard that! I HEAR that - everyday. The closer we come to my daughter's wedding - next Friday! I have all her details to "worry" about - and now the "weather" (we have a nor'easter bearing down on us today, a week after Hurricane Sandy), how to pay the bills this month, and all the whacked politics that swirl about us like a whirlwind seeking to suck us into a black hole. BUT - God. Best. Words. Ever.

    Thanks for the encouragement to keep on keeping on - and leave it all to Him - He really does have this one - all sewed up. And, all is well.

    Joy!
    Kathy

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)