“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
– Isaiah 55:9
Have you ever had a major setback in life? As we continue to talk about work and the different places we invest our time and energy, it may call to mind situations in which we did everything right, and yet we still lost something important. I’m willing to bet that many of you reading this have at one point in your life lost a job or a business. If you’re in the ministry, maybe you lost a congregation or your church shut down. Whatever the case, when you have done your very best and it still doesn’t work out, it can leave you feeling discouraged, disillusioned, and wondering if it even mattered. Perhaps the greatest temptation when we have done our very best to honor God and treat people right and we still lose an opportunity is to blame ourselves. As we seek to rationalize what happened and use our limited human perspective to find answers, we often revert to a wrong belief that God is punishing us or that He’s mad at us. Sometimes, as strange as it seems, coming up with these imagined scenarios actually makes us feel better in the short-term; however, assuming that we are the reason things don’t work out takes God off the throne of our lives and harms us in the meantime. The truth is, He’s just not that predictable! Friend, the Lord is not like you — His providence is unsearchable! Since He is God, He moves in ways that you can’t understand because He sees the big picture; He knows history from beginning to end and He sees clearly where you need to be in every season of your life, including this one. Despite your shortcomings, mistakes, or misunderstandings, He sees you, He loves you, and He will get you to where you are supposed to go. Nothing is wasted in His Kingdom, so where you are right now is right where you need to be! Isn’t that great news? |
Prayer
Jesus, I trust you in the setbacks of my life; thank you for your providence in every situation and circumstance. I know that I am right where I need to be today.
Reflection
Call to mind a setback in your life. How did you feel when it happened? Looking back, how did you/do you see God working in and through it?
4 Responses
It was when I took the GED test at Oakton Community College in Skokie Illinois. I thought that everything would be easy. But unfortunately that wasn’t how it turned out to be.I had every ounce of confidence going into the classroom and taking the five exams . It was multiple choice. Which meant that I looked at the questions and had to choose the correct answer.Good grief! I followed the directions and tried my best to complete them all.I was very disappointed to receive the results in the mail. But looking back. I’ve discovered that there was something even better for me.I hope and pray that the Hour of Power will continue its mission of reaching the lost and lonely with the message that God loves them. And for Pastor Bobby Schuller and his beautiful family.Love and prayers to them.God bless the Hour of Power choir and orchestra for the glorious music and singing.As always I remain a faithful viewer of
the Hour of Power and Happy and Wholesome Student in Jesus Christ
Hi Donna! Thank you for sharing this story about how God took your disappointment and revealed something greater through it. We appreciate your love and support of us and we are thankful for your constant encouragement! God loves you and so do we!!
Very hard to feel “safe” when you lose your job, your health, etc..but as we have experienced all the bad .. getting older is really a blessing, because you can look back and be amazed at how God had your back all along! It never fails to amaze me, when you ponder your life and see how what seemed like the worst, was really the best! I look to the sky sometimes and say, Oh God, you are SO funny. He is smiling at me and saying, kid, you never had to worry and look how I brought the worst of circumstances into the BEST EVER in your life! I just laugh sometimes. Now, I don’t doubt anymore. I’m pushing 70, and whatever happens is OK! Sick, death, will hurt of course. But I now rest knowing whatever he brings, is for a grander purpose and I can’t wait to see the end.
Its like a movie that leaves you hanging, but you have confidence it will all be WELL. All will be very well.
Hi Joanne! Amen to this! The Lord is so faithful to us through each and every season of our lives. Thank you for sharing your journey and faith with us! God loves you and so do we!