Our kids often come home excited to tell us the interesting things they’ve learned in school. So when our 9-year-old asked me if I knew how to balance a book at least an inch high off the counter on just a sheet of paper, I knew there had to be a logical explanation though I couldn’t envision it. Taking out a sheet of notebook paper, he folded it lengthwise several times, and then, after coiling it, he rested the book on the folded paper. As I watched, I thought about how far my ideas had been from the actual solution.
Reading Scripture, I can see I’m not the only one who deals with limited sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). In an account of miraculous provision, Philip’s solution was limited to what he could conceive in his human understanding (John 6:7). Misunderstanding the purpose of Jesus’ question, Philip didn’t realize that Jesus didn’t need Philip’s input because He was short on ideas. He wanted to know the source of Philip’s hope. Like heat applied to gold, Jesus’ question served to rid Philip of the dross of self and bring him to a place of dependence on God. Jesus didn’t expect Philip to meet the need; He expected him to trust. God was and is more than enough.
When life brings us to those places where the solution eludes our grasp, we can look around frantically and in panic cry out to God regarding His injustice in forcing such a thing on us. Or we have the option to lift our hands in surrender, stake a claim on what we know God has done in the past, and rest in the unchanging nature of His character and love (Psalm 9:10). He can “accomplish infinitely more than” we can see (Ephesians 3:20).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Job 2:1-13
More:
Read Psalm 20:7 and Isaiah 31:1 and consider how these verses might apply to your life.
Next:
When a crisis hits, what’s your first reaction? How can you train your mind to see things in the light of God’s Word rather than through your human eyes? (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
melanierweber on May 9, 2012 at 10:13 am
Thank you Regina for this. I have been job hunting for over a year and the experience feels like showing up at a gold mine every day. Digging and sifting through dirt. I have particularly struggled with feeling hopeful as it wasn’t God’s will for us to move out of state. And without knowing it, it affected my ability to trust God. It’s time to repent my doubt. And I know that I can surrender my angst to a loving God. I learned through you’re writing that it’s important to focus on cultivating my hope.
Thank you. I am grateful. And becoming hopeful.
tom felten on May 9, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Thanks for sharing, melanierweber. Being unemployed is a very difficult experience on so many fronts. I pray that—as Regina wrote—you can “surrender, stake a claim on what we know God has done in the past, and rest in the unchanging nature of His character and love (Psalm 9:10).” As I look to the past, I see God has so often done the biggest things in and through me when I was in a place of weakness—not great success.
regina franklin on May 10, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Dear melanierweber,
Praying for you as I write this response–that you will know first and foremost that you are loved and cared for by the One who made you and second for financial provision and direction with a job. May the Lord’s peace surround you.
winn collier on May 9, 2012 at 11:20 am
thank you for this reminder about the one who offers all true hope and wisdom.