Aaron doesn't always like to be awakened from his sleep, either in the morning or after an afternoon nap. Yet when it's time to get out of bed, it's time to get out of bed! And I am often met with his anger during those times.
One day not long ago he wanted to take a nap. I asked him if he would get out of bed when I told him it was time. He promised that he would. I know Aaron, so I gave him the mom look as we stood there.
"Mom!" he asked, "do you trust my promise?"
I was honest with him and told him that sometimes he had a hard time keeping his promises when it came to getting out of bed.
Aaron's question is one that I feel God is often asking me.
Sometimes the prayers I prayed in the past and the way that God answered leads to a place that is far from perfect.
If my trust is on my circumstances instead of on my heavenly Father, then I will most certainly begin to doubt His leading.
I know better than to live that way. I know the verses and I know the principles, but life's realities sure can cloud that knowledge and turn it quickly into doubt and defeat.
God's promises are not negated because of my feelings.
But my peace can be destroyed because of my feelings.
The trust I had in His leading yesterday is the same trust I need to have in Him when the path He led me to is not necessarily fun and joyful all the time.
Job felt abandoned by God as he endured horrific testing…testing that took place even as Job lived faithfully for God.
Job expressed his thoughts very honestly in Job 23. He said that he went forward, and God was not there. He went backward and did not perceive God. God did not seem to reveal Himself to Job on the right or on the left.
BUT!!!
"BUT He knows the way I take," Job said. (Job 23:10)
Ah! The important thing for me to know is that GOD knows the way I take. Job was walking God's path, treasuring God's words, keeping God's ways…and still lived with very hard situations in his life.
God knows my path, too…and yours. As you follow Him and ask for His guidance, then trust Him to do the best in your life.
Yet sometimes the best is tough.
"I'm living my BEST life!" we hear people say.
But then the pictures are usually beautiful and fun and happy.
Mine don't always look like that.
"Patty?" God says, "do you trust My promise?"
"Yes," I answer, "but why did You lead me here and now look at how it's turned out?"
"Because I love you," God answers. "I know what's best for you."
"I do believe that, of course," I reply, "but…
"But DO you trust Me?" God asks again.
And I come full circle once again, forced to make a conscious decision about God…to firmly believe that He performs what is appointed for me, as Job said.
"Do you trust my promise?" God repeats.
"I do," I reply, sometimes through tears, "because I trust YOU."
Yesterday's leading is still today's place for me.
And that's because of God…only God.
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