…it has not yet been revealed
what we shall be… —1 John 3:2
“Our natural inclination is
to […] always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon
uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined
goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the
spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. […] Certainty is the
mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual
life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not
knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of
sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are
uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon
ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill
our lives with surprises. […] The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are
not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. […] .. when
we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful
uncertainty and expectancy.”
The Haitian Creole for being
certain in our uncertainty is . “Si Bondye vle” If God wants. Being resolved to
trusting in the will of God and His sovereignty. I know I will step on some toes with the next
comment. It’s like praying for traveling
mercies. In other words, Lord please don’t let anything bad happen and
certainly don’t let us die. Why is God’s
will and sovereignty any different when we are in a car, train or plane that
when we are sitting in our living room or mowing the lawn? The truth is, it doesn’t matter where we are
.. remember Psalm 139? Why do we pray that way?Because we think that way. Because we want to not be afraid. Dallas Holm sang a
song that emphasized that truth:
“I’ve Never Been Out Of His
Care”
“The eyes of God are upon me,
He sees everything I do. The arms of God are around me, They keep me safe and secure.
And He knows where I am Every hour of every day He knows each thought I think He knows each word that I might say.
And although there've been
times I've been out of His will I've never been out of His care.
This changing world alarms
me, With war, with sin, with strife. But my loving Father charms me, With joy, with peace, and with life.”
We should look forward to
each day with expectation. Expectation
that our God is faithful and we are never out of His care. (1 Peter 5:7) Expectation that no matter what events may
happen in our lives, we are in His hands.
When we were serving in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, a volunteer
asked me if I liked living in Mississippi .. in the middle of a disaster
area. The Lord had us there for 5
years. After reflection .. no one had ever
asked me that particular question before … I answered, “I love being in Mississippi. There is no better place to be than the
center of God’s will for your life. Geography
has nothing to do with it.” That can also be said for Haiti and Alabama. Or wherever you might be at this particular point
in your life. No matter what storm or
disaster you find yourself in. That is so long as you are in the center of God’s
will and not your own. ELGIN
Charley Elgin
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