God Prepares

Psalm 147:5 - Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Reading the account in Luke the other morning about Zacharias and Elizabeth and how God intervened in their lives to bring forth a son, John (the Baptist), who would in the appropriate time announce Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. (Luke 1)

It reminded me of something I read previously in our study of Revelation and which I've known for a long time: that God is in control and that every day He is working out His plan. We don't see it but He is setting the stage in all of our lives. We might run into someone ever so briefly but they might be there for a reason.

Here's what the study said: What lengthy struggle has God required you to endure? Is He calling you to keep praying, to keep trusting Him with deep emotional wounds, sickness or loneliness? How can you rely on His provision when you do not see resources? Think deeply about the characteristics of God as a source of peace and strength. Know He loves you, and His timing incorporates greater purposes than you can understand. (Bible Study Fellowship, Lesson 12...emphasis is mine!)

Exactly! I've long believed that God works behind the scenes putting circumstances and people in order to bring about His will in everyone's life. We may not always respond the way we should, especially if we do not know this. But if we do know, we can look at circumstances differently. We can know that what we see is just part of His plan and to pretty much go with the flow. We can trust that: For 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)‬ ‭Praise God for that! 

Back to Luke 1. Just months before Mary would conceive Jesus, the stage was being set for John to usher Him in years later. All part of His plan. And as we read in Luke 1 we see odd things happening: Zacharias loses his ability to speak, barren Elizabeth conceives. Mary conceives, without knowing a man, at the six-month time of Elizabeth's pregnancy, and my favorite part, when Mary visits Elizabeth: And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke‬ ‭1:41‬) That yet unborn baby John knew the presence of that yet born Savior of the world. Nothing is impossible with God, to coin a scripture!

We won't be told for what purpose things are happening, although God could do that. But we have these past experiences to stand on. God is in control. Our lives are all intertwined somehow. I know you, you know me. Maybe we don't see a connection, but there's a good chance there is. Hmmmm.

It's not always about a struggle, either, although it's when we are waiting (im)patiently or having to endure something that we might wonder why. Just trust in the Lord. Pray about the situation. Let Him know you are, or want to, trust Him for His results.

Proverbs 3:5-7a - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes...