“I had plans for how my life was supposed to work out,” my friend David said. “And when things didn’t go as planned, I became bitter and resentful.” Who can relate to David? I definitely can! Often I find myself imposing my expectations on God as rights, and then sulking when they aren’t realized.
John the Baptist may have felt the same way. It’s possible that he and his disciples wondered why his famous cousin wouldn’t save him from Herod’s clutches. Reports spread of Jesus’ miraculous works throughout the region. But John had been imprisoned and was left to wonder if Jesus was truly the Messiah (Matthew 11:2-3).
So John sent his disciples to inquire. Was Christ the Expected One, or should they look for another? (Luke 7:19). In response, Jesus told them to report all that they had seen. The blind received sight, the lame walked, and the dead were brought to life. Then Jesus added something else: “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me” (Luke 7:23).
John was beginning to doubt if he had gotten it all wrong. What he knew intellectually about Jesus was being affected by what he felt emotionally. He was behind bars and things were not going the way he had planned.
God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, so, like John the Baptist, we can’t always grasp the intimate details He’s working out (Isaiah 55:8-9). Instead, He invites us into His plans and purposes for us.
Despite his doubts, John remained faithful. He was ultimately beheaded, but not before Jesus stated that none greater than John had ever lived (Luke 7:28). Imagine what awaited John when he entered God’s presence! Imagine what will await us as God reveals His perfect ways and plans in the days ahead.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 2:23–3:19
More:
Read Hebrews 11:1-2 and consider what it means to have faith in God.
Next:
Do you find it difficult surrendering to God’s will when you don’t understand the full picture? What steps can you take to seek God’s perspective in a current challenging situation?
Gary Shultz on June 27, 2016 at 6:06 am
Remi, you must have been listening to Lauren Daigle’s new song “Trust In You”….. It was a very difficult place for John and I certainly could understand his question of, hey are we doing the right thing here? I really like how you stated Jesus did not rush to break him out or even keep him from death. As we (ODJ folks) have chatted here in the recent past about those who are called upon to suffer and make even physical sacrifices. We must come to a conclusion about John, it served God’s greater purpose to allow John’s death. We are revolted by that thought. Is death too much for God to handle? Does He fall short at times? We know the answers to those questions and as John we are asked to remain faithful. It is a hard thought for us; however, God controls the future and He is a faithful rewarder of those who serve Him. One of our questions should be, are we faithful enough in those situations knowing God has a more noble and greater reward for us, will we be God’s glory, faithfully. Big stuff Remi, thanks.
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 8:32 am
Love that song, Gary!
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 4:23 pm
Gary, I just have to say that “Trust in You” has been spot on for me today, brother. The lyrics speak so well to today’s topic. I’ve had it on “repeat” all day as I’ve done my work. Thanks again for mentioning it. I’m pretty sure it was just for me. 🙂
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Hello Gary,
I’m actually unfamiliar with that song, but I’ll go look it up now! Thank you so much for your thought provoking analysis – especially the question about whether death is too much for God to handle. You must have been looking over my shoulder as I read a novel recently where the protagonist witnessed some christians joyfully being martyred. In that moment, she realized that they were looking beyond this reality to the one where Jesus welcomes them with open arms – thus nullifying death’s power over them. So, even in the face of death we can know that God’s plan is ALWAYS best.
Be blessed!
Remi
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 8:29 am
Hi, Remi. This is good, my friend. And right where I am. What a quandary to be in a place where my theology is at odds with my experience. But this is what faith is, right? It should be no surprise that our greatest struggle with God comes when we are called to exercise real faith—when we are asked to believe and trust when we don’t see any evidence of help in our own situation. I love the answer Jesus sent to John. He didn’t ask him to exercise a blind faith. He sent word to calm John’s momentary doubts by reminding him of what He had and was presently already doing that proved He was the Messiah. In my own circumstances, I find that when I focus on what I DO KNOW instead of what I DON’T UNDERSTAND my faith remains steady. I also remind myself that my life is not my own. I’m completely His—a purchased possession. Nothing about my life is off-limits to Him…not even life itself. Still, like John, those momentary doubts come, and He remembers that I am dust. I’m so grateful for John’s question and that God preserved the account in His Word for our encouragement, aren’t you? Appreciate this today, Remi. Grace and peace to you and everyone here today.
hsnpoor on June 27, 2016 at 10:44 am
GAgirl, that is truly linking the rubber (our faith) to the road (God’s Will/Plans)! Remi, thank you for the reminder that God is not bound by our expectations. Thank you both for expounding that true faith knows that human expectations has no place except abandonment to the plans and purposes of God, no matter where that may take us, knowing that the very best place it can and will eventually take all who believe, is into his Presence!
Here I am
Here I stand
Lord, my life is in your hands
Lord, I’m longing to see
Your desires revealed in me
[Chorus:]
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
[Verse 2:]
Take my heart
Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands
[Chorus x2:]
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
[Bridge x7:]
My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 11:23 am
Beautiful lyric, Kim. Thanks for sharing. Artist?
hsnpoor on June 27, 2016 at 12:12 pm
William McDowell……
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Love it, Kim! It’s a keeper!
jef on June 27, 2016 at 2:37 pm
We unknowingly tend to box God in with our expectations. When reason and intellect fail we can always trust his hand. hsnpoor i see “Already there” by casting crowns also reinforcing this thought.
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Jef, didn’t you mean to say we can always trust His heart? Sometimes it appears that His hand has gone out against us. Isn’t that what Naomi said in the book of Ruth? It’s in such times that we cling to the unchanging character of God. Those who know His name trust in Him. His heart is always good toward us even when it appears that His hand isn’t. (Forgive me, Kim, for usurping your response! I guess I need to shut it down for today .) 🙂
jef on June 27, 2016 at 4:09 pm
We’ll have eternity to acquaint ourselves with this attributes, can’t wait. If the hand ‘seemingly’ is against us let’s trust His heart. Blessings.
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Hello hsnpoor,
I LOVE this song! How on point the lyrics are to today’s discussion – Jesus himself said that anyone who follows him must be willing to give everything up. Sometimes we gloss over certain things in the scriptures, but Jesus never did waste words. We’d do well to treasure the message in its entirety, even the parts that are hard to swallow. Thank you so much for sharing :).
Be blessed,
Remi
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Hello Gagirl,
You said it – faith exists at the crossroads between theology and experience. I was recently reminded of this very powerfully after I’d spent a lot of time whining about circumstances and slowly losing hope. No difficulty should be magnified to the point that we lose sight of just how big and in control God is, yet sadly that happens all too often. May we continue to encounter markers which jolt us back to the remembrance of Jesus, our firm foundation.
Be blessed,
Remi
Tom Felten on June 27, 2016 at 10:02 am
Remi, thanks for the reminder of God inviting us to join Him in His work. When things don’t go my why, I can be prone to question why God isn’t doing what—from my limited view—should be done. Instead, I can rest in the reality that His plans truly are greater and that there is purpose in our pain.
gagirllive on June 27, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Amen, Tom. Your comment causes me to return to the passage and consider what Jesus said in verse 23…”Blessed is he who is not offended because of me.” The Greek word for offended is skandalon from which we get our English word scandalous. I imagine that is a good part of the emotion that John was feeling in that moment. Perhaps, like me, he felt scandalized, humiliated…disappointed. Is this my destiny? The seemingly absurdity of the situation when God allows something that looks so contradictory to what you had envisioned He had planned for your life can be quite a blow. This is a hard reality to accept—God can be very unpredictable while being perfectly sovereign…and faithful to us. In our finite minds that is difficult to reconcile, and that is when we must simply CHOOSE to trust. This is what I’m learning, at least.
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Hello Tom and Gagirl,
Yes, exactly! One of the biggest obstacles to faith is our ‘limited view,’ or ‘finite mind.’ We keep trying to make sense of God and what He’s doing despite knowing that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. No one knows the mind of God, except God Himself. If we claim to be His followers, then we really must choose to trust. May God give us the grace to do so.
Be blessed,
Remi
godlove on June 27, 2016 at 3:35 pm
Very thought provoking post indeed, Remi. I have been blessed by all the comments as well, particularly the nice lyrics shared by hsnpoor. It’s so true that from our narrow human perspective we can easily feel let down when we have the impression that God isn’t doing what we wanted or expected. But that’s where faith comes in, as Paul said in Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” For me, having assurance about things we cannot see means trusting that, even if momentarily we don’t seem to be getting things our way, we should keep looking up to God and trusting that HIS way is the best. When I make any request of God, I rest in the knowledge that He knows better than me what is best and how best to give it to me, like Jesus says in Matthew 7:11 “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” It’s all about abandoning ourselves to His will. I pray that by the power of His Spirit in me, God may help guide and shape my desires such that these should fall in line with His Divine Will for me.Thanks for this great post, Remi. Blessed week to everyone.
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Amen, Godlove – Amen!!
You also have a blessed week 🙂
Remi
al061016 on June 27, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Dear Heavenly Father,
I just wanted to thank you for talking and listening to me. Thank you for helping me understand, in my heart, the best, less painful, and more joyful way acutely is just to follow You, small steps by small steps.
Thank you for being so patient with me.
Thank you for surrounding me with such a great cloud of witnesses. Help me run this race with good strength and endurance.
Thank you for Your love and Your good plans for me.
remioyedele2015 on June 27, 2016 at 6:19 pm
What a beautiful prayer, al061016! I pray that its truth will be manifested in all our lives, in Jesus Name.
Be blessed,
Remi