Lord, if this is really what you want me to be doing, then why is it so hard?
But, as usual, almost simultaneously with telling me no, God sends something into my life to let me know that He's still there and that He's still looking out for me. This time it was the poignant words of a good friend and blogger:
Beyond this moment in its grit and glory. Beyond the hopes on the horizon. Beyond the fears too.
Beyond are the stars in the vastness of the night sky. Beyond, the opposite extreme of beyond, is the perfection of a scarlet pimpernel nestled into the leaves and grasses at the side of a path. It’s all beyond anything I can create … or could create in a million years. It’s beyond anything I could imagine! And yet, for God, it’s within – within His ability as a Creator. Within His ability as a Dreamer of Dreams.
Beyond Words by Elisabeth Allen
When it comes to asking God for something that's good for you, "no" is never simply "no." God is very fond of saying "yes." But because He knows us better than we know ourselves, and because He so passionately wants us to have the good things that we want too, sometimes He says: "Wait. I want something truly beautiful and wonderful for you, and this is not the way. I have something so much better in store for you, if you'll be patient and trust Me."
He is the Dreamer of Dreams. He created me, with my capacity to dream, and He knows all of them. Why should I think that His dreams aren't bigger than mine? They are. His dreams for me are beyond what I could ever imagine. Just because things don't go how I expected and hoped doesn't mean that they aren't going to go well... amazingly well, in fact.
With God, a "no" usually means: "Hold on tight, because something truly extraordinary and unexpected is headed your way!"
I'm holding on.
All I can say is thank you, your posts help so much. My prayers are with you
ReplyDeleteDear Clare,
ReplyDeleteI will pray for you. Almighty God always give us so much more, so much better than that for which we've asked Him. All is well, and all will be very well. May Our Blessed Mother, she who has always known how to wait patiently for the best outcome, be your guide.
Clare! I am glad you are holding on. It is this interim between the blessing taken for something better that is not easy. But you do grow a lot in this time. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! It served as a great reminder for what I tell myself everyday about God's plan for me.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful and insightful post!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is truly one of the hardest parts about trusting and being content. And even when that "so much more" isn't even immediately obvious to us, He will allow us to see His beauty in His time. It's such a shame that non-believers write off road-blocks and trials as God not caring for us at all. He certainly does, but it does require tremendous trust and abandonment on our part. Beautiful post Clare! :-)
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