I've found myself in this specific scenario so many times it almost makes my head spin - it use to infuriate me for years until I got tired of that merry-go-round and I finally jumped off.
Now I see it as God just reminding me, "You're not God." It continually reminds me of how important humility is. I mean, the last thing the world needs now is another "know it all."
As a child I was drawn to what I couldn't understand and angered by it as well. My spirit was pulled into it while my mind fought hard against it because well, it just didn't make much sense to me. And every time it started to, once again as my mind explored all the stories or scriptures of the Bible, I'd always run into something where the dots just weren't connecting.
Now I see it as God just reminding me, "You're not God." It continually reminds me of how important humility is. I mean, the last thing the world needs now is another "know it all."
As a child I was drawn to what I couldn't understand and angered by it as well. My spirit was pulled into it while my mind fought hard against it because well, it just didn't make much sense to me. And every time it started to, once again as my mind explored all the stories or scriptures of the Bible, I'd always run into something where the dots just weren't connecting.
So even after getting saved and baptized as a twelve year old, I just pretty much decided to live my own way since I just didn't understand God's way. I did talk to Him though from time to time, usually to complain though and ask Him what was my job here - "Yeah, by the way God, what DID You put me here to do?" I remember this recurring internal message in my gut, "Read the Bible." So when I'd get really desperate I'd pick it up and flop it open to some random spot and read....9 times out of 10 it wasn't anything I could make any sense of at all! So I proceeded to fling it across the room, yelling in frustration to God, "How's anyone supposed to understand this @#* anyway?" Most likely it was a King James Version at the time, but that's beside the point. What is my point any way?
My point is I was missing one specific key ingredient -- surrender. Just the word itself may make some of you shiver...it's definitely not a delightful word. And for many surrender is the last place you even try to go, I mean you'd have to pretty desperate to go there. In my twenties, to get to that place I had to suffer and suffer and suffer before I finally let myself go there. Surrender to me looked like an old, ugly and dirty shack about to fall into a pile of rubble at any second. But why does it look sooo bad to so many of us? Because things are not always as they appear. Part of being human means it's in our nature to judge by the things we experience day in and day out....so it can be quite the challenge to even decide to venture down the road of the "unseen." The "spiritual realms."
Haven't you always heard there's a reason for everything? Of course, quite a few people are thinking in the cause and effect area. Yes while this may be true in many places in life, there are also spiritual reasons for everything. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness and against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 There is an entire spiritual world all around you that you cannot see nor understand without entering that ugly shack of "surrender."
Surrender to what? You may be asking. Surrender to love. Surrender to grace. Surrender to mercy. Surrender to God, His plan and purpose for your life and His righteousness....meaning His ways. To surrender is meekness, not weakness though many see it that way. However, the definition of meekness is actually strength under control.
DRFARMER(c)2015
My point is I was missing one specific key ingredient -- surrender. Just the word itself may make some of you shiver...it's definitely not a delightful word. And for many surrender is the last place you even try to go, I mean you'd have to pretty desperate to go there. In my twenties, to get to that place I had to suffer and suffer and suffer before I finally let myself go there. Surrender to me looked like an old, ugly and dirty shack about to fall into a pile of rubble at any second. But why does it look sooo bad to so many of us? Because things are not always as they appear. Part of being human means it's in our nature to judge by the things we experience day in and day out....so it can be quite the challenge to even decide to venture down the road of the "unseen." The "spiritual realms."
Haven't you always heard there's a reason for everything? Of course, quite a few people are thinking in the cause and effect area. Yes while this may be true in many places in life, there are also spiritual reasons for everything. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness and against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 There is an entire spiritual world all around you that you cannot see nor understand without entering that ugly shack of "surrender."
Surrender to what? You may be asking. Surrender to love. Surrender to grace. Surrender to mercy. Surrender to God, His plan and purpose for your life and His righteousness....meaning His ways. To surrender is meekness, not weakness though many see it that way. However, the definition of meekness is actually strength under control.
God's word plainly states in John 3:3 that unless a person is born again he cannot even see (comprehend & experience) the kingdom of God- even more importantly Jesus said it Himself. Obviously He doesn't mean you are reborn in the flesh - it's a spiritual rebirth and you cannot get there without surrendering.
While I would love to explore this subject to even greater depths...(maybe in a second post?) I will wrap this up by saying that when we don't understand and feel confused about whatever is occurring in our lives, maybe we just need to return to Him and surrender to His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). With the eyes of your heart, look unto Jesus, the author & finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2) - He will make many things clearer at the right time. He's not only faithful but extremely trustworthy & He knows exactly what's best for you. How could He not? He created you and knows you inside & out. (Psalm 139)
Oh and one more beautiful side note - when you open that shack door and step in - you are going to find the most beautiful & extravagantly huge mansion inside! It's a glorious place I promise!
DRFARMER(c)2015
