Have you considered that Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has set a grid over our lives? This grid has divine purpose. He will allow nothing through this grid that cannot be utilised for His purpose in my life, and therefore, ultimately, for His glory. Success or failure, joys and sorrows, feast or famine – all have to pass through His grid. The Holy Spirit of God is constantly working with us, teaching us God’s ways, instructing us how to live a surrendered life in His rest. Hebrews 4: 9-10 declares “There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His”. To cease from our own works, there lies the key once more, surrender. Trying to fulfil the will of God by my works, in my own strength, will never fulfil God’s plan. I need to get out of the way, surrender, and wait for the Lord’s perfect timing and plan.
If God has declared something, He alone will bring it to pass, for His glory. The waiting period for the fulfilment of His word is important to God. In this passage of time, His purpose for me is that I mature in learning to trust Him more, mature in my walk with Him, draw closer to Him and allow patience to have her perfect work, (James 1:4). Kingdom principles do not sit well in western, worldly society. In the rat race, instant is key. Life is lived at a faster pace than God ever intended, leaving no room for grace and patience.
We do well to remember that the barren place and the wilderness are part of the journey to the Promised Land, they are not my destiny! Don’t settle for less than God’s best, but see them as the grid of God where He is teaching me His ways. I can draw close to Him at these times and know His deep assurance that He is bringing me through. Here I find His treasure of darkness – Isaiah 45:3 “And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel”. As I surrender to His working in my life, He gives me a song to sing that is independent of my negative circumstances and I discover the joy of His constant presence and love for me. Patience is having its perfect work and my spirit is soaring with God. The life of Christ, the well of my salvation, is bubbling in my soul.
- God will fulfil His word to me. Isaiah 55:8-13 declares “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you with singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir……..AND IT SHALL BE TO THE LORD FOR A NAME, FOR AN EVERLASTING SIGN THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF.”
As I surrender to the Lord, my doubts, discouragement and unbelief fall away. In His royal exchange I discover the beauty of Jesus. I find no lack in the joy of His presence. My wrestling ceases when I nestle into the everlasting arms. Let go and let God!
Psalm 127:1 “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain”. Let go ….. and let God! He is the eternal, omnipotent Watchman over our lives, nothing will get through His grid that He cannot use for His divine purposes in our lives……so rest in His love, He rejoices over you!
