He could have chosen someone else…
Good morning, afternoon and evening,
I am a few days late uploading June’s blog and I apologize for the delay. I originally started a message called “You Are Too.” But currently I am traveling and do not have the current draft with me. Though, the beautiful thing about our loving and wise Holy Spirit. He always has a message and knows who needs to read it at a particular time.
As I sit here in the airport waiting to board, I am reflecting on these past 10 months. I am traveling for an event which celebrates myself and many others graduating from our leadership program. It is a 10-month program geared to shaping, forming, and remodeling some old ways of thinking. It provides us with various leadership tools and definitely nudges us out of our comfort zone. It is not just for our careers but for every aspect of life. And you “get” the opportunity to build relationships with people from all over the country.
But….if I am honest. When I first heard I was getting into this program in early 2024, I was not as elated. All I could think about was how in the world I was going to do this program along with everything else in my life. I remember the anxiety welling up inside of me. I remember experiencing a little irritation and even complaining internally.
So what I will say to you and myself is to be grateful for the grace and mercifulness of God. If God took away everything I ever complained about, I would probably have very little in my life.
Very little health, probably no career and no job, no friends, no family, no money, no home, and no advancement opportunities to grow mentally, socially, financially, and spiritually.
The Lord did not have to open a door that allowed me to experience this opportunity. He could have given it to someone else. But His plan was to position me in this program at a specific time for His specific reasons.
Will we always know the reasons why we experience certain things? No!
Does your lack of knowing change the goodness of God? No!
Can the doors that the Lord graciously opens ever close? Yes, they can.
But…our faithful and patient God listens to the constant murmurs and complaining…And still says “Daughter or Son, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
Look, I have a tendency to complain or vent about the smallest things in comparison to all my Heavenly Father has done. And while, I am not saying your pain, discomfort, and unpleasant seasons are not real. Actually, Jesus encourages us to bring it all to Him to carry.
But what I am saying, we can get so caught up in all these things that we carry and miss the goodness of God.
We will miss that
1. WE ARE NOT ALONE
We will miss that
2. Not all things, but there are some things that are a blessing in disguise. You can’t see it because you are stuck in a pattern of murmuring like the Israelites in the wilderness.
We will miss that
3. The Lord does not have to choose you for that job, for that experience, to be a parent, to lead a group, or give you spiritual gifts with guidance. But He did.
We will miss that
4. Lastly, not everything the Lord has us involved in is necessarily for us. It is the output that you will learn and grow that may help someone else.
So to you reading this message right now….
The next time you are faced with a difficulty or not so difficulty (but a door). Remember to cast it to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit for peace to hear, see, and experience the victory. We already have the victory whether in tough times or uncomfortable opportunities. The key is in our choice on “how we will respond.”
Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”