No Surprises Here!

 I woke the other day with the words to a song on repeat in my mind:

God only knows what you've been through ... there's a kind of love that God only knows ... 

To this, I will say a wholehearted AMEN! 

But while I considered the words to this song, another phrase came up from deep within:

God already knows what you're going to do. 

And still, He chose you.

When we study Scripture, we learn about men and women who made choices in their lives, some completely rejecting God's authority, others misguided by thinking that they were helping God.

The truth is, there is nothing we can do to help Him. Jesus told us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). 

Everything we receive, everything we accomplish, is because He gave us the ability. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

But He knew we would try. Which is why, I believe, He left us His word. It is our manual for daily living. It is also our go-to for the days when everything we try goes wrong, and we need to find wise counsel. Scripture is our infallible authority on all things from relationships to finances to health--mental and physical.

Scripture is also amazing in its ability to encourage us when we flounder and fail in our efforts to assist God in keeping His promises. We can see this in the account of Abram and Sarai's agreement to use a slave woman as a surrogate since Sarai couldn't have a child (Genesis 16). Then later on, David's attempt to cover up his infidelity with Bathsheba by sending Uriah to his death. And yet, Scripture calls David "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).

One might argue that David's failure occurred after the pronouncement of Samuel. And it did. However, let's fast forward to the book of Hebrews 11, where David is listed among the heroes of the faith. His name was not lost on God's heart. Nor was God caught off guard, for David declared in Psalm 139:

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down, 

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before, 

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day,

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

Jeremiah, also, encountered the LORD with his own doubts and received this response from Him:

Newborn photo courtesy Google Images

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

Before you were born I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

I am not saying we're all called to be prophets. Although Paul did say, "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1). 

I am saying that if God knew David before he was formed in the womb, and if God Himself formed Jeremiah in the womb, then it stands to reason that all humanity falls into the "before I formed you in the womb I knew you ..." category.

So take heart, friend. Life can be hard, feel lonely, and threaten to crush us. We can have confidence in God's abundant grace and mercy. We can trust His faithfulness to accomplish what He has promised. There is nothing we can do or say that will throw Him off.

This is not a license to go on sinning. Instead, it's hope that when we realize our propensity to sin and humble ourselves before Him, He is faithful and just and will forgive us (1 John 1:9).

We don't have to hide or suffer in anguish. This is what the devil would have us do. It renders us ineffective in our lives because we're overcome by the guilt of our sin.

I had a pastor once say, "Agree with the devil quickly, then turn to Jesus, who paid the price for all of it." In other words, say, "Yes, I did that." Turn to Jesus and say, "But thank you, Jesus, for redeeming me."

We don't have to roll over. Just pivot and embrace the One who paid it all with all of Himself.

Until next time, go rest in His perfect love. 💜

💜 Karlene J 💜