Looking back on my life, through sweet moments and ones that weren’t, I can see the Lord has always been with me. Not one thing happened—either by the choices I made, or by what was going on around me—that He didn’t already know about. And in His wisdom, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, He used it all, for my good and His glory.
When that reality hit, the truth of thanking Him in everything, began to take shape in my heart. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:18.) Am I thanking Him because the world as we knew it is spinning off its axis? Am I thanking Him for the times I stumbled in sin? Absolutely not! I am thanking Him because of who HE IS. The Lord can turn what was meant for evil, for good (Genesis 50:20), and can use even my failings to discipline and hone my heart to be like His. As we become His radiant reflections, He will draw others to Himself.
For God is ~
- Omniscient. He is all-knowing. That should be a great solace when our worlds are flipped upside down as they are now.
- Sovereign. Nothing happens that He didn’t allow.
- Omnipresent. He is everywhere.
- Omnipotent. He is powerful beyond our reckoning.
- Wise. His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways, ours. (See Isaiah 55:8.) Even though we may be grieved by our circumstances, God has a reason for, and is in control of what He allows.
- Faithful. He never leaves or forsakes us. (See Hebrews 13:5.)
- Good. His goodness goes beyond our understanding. Our definition of a good person cannot be compared with who HE IS.
- Holy. Our words and ideas can’t fathom His holiness. The Lord, when walking past Moses, instructed Moses to turn his face away. If Moses looked on God’s glory, he would die because God’s glory would be too much for him. (See Exodus 33:17.)
- Gracious and Forgiving. Without Jesus, grace and forgiveness are beyond our reach.
- Finally, God is Love.
If we understood just a few of the Lord’s attributes that are wrapped in His never-ending, grace-abounding, amazing fervent love, our hearts would be astonished by what we would see.
It is so easy to focus on the turbulence that seems to daily whip our lives around. But I am beginning to understand that when I focus on my world, instead of looking to God, I begin to drown, like Peter did when he took his eyes off Jesus when trying to walk on the water. (See Matthew 14:29-32.)
If I look at my circumstances instead of at the Lord, I forget to trust in Him. But when the Lord is the focal point of my heart, His perfect peace surrounds me as He leads and guides my life. He IS all I need.
Heavenly Father,
Lord Jesus, please keep my eyes on You. Please strengthen the faith you have given me to trust You especially when I don’t understand what’s going on. Please pour your peace within me as I follow You. Thank You, In Jesus name. Amen
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Psalm 84:11-12, nkjv
“Yahweh will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.”
Isaiah 58:11, TPT
